World Cancer Day: Dr Beatrice Addai calls for united action against cancer

The President of Breast Care International (BCI), Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, has called for a collective and coordinated effort involving like-minded individuals, corporate bodies, and multinational organisations to confront cancer through awareness creation, prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

She made the call during the observance of World Cancer Day at the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. The event was heavily attended by clergy, traditional leaders, traders, civil society organisations (CSOs), health practitioners, and schoolchildren.

Addressing participants, Dr Wiafe Addai stressed that cancer remains a shared global burden that requires united action from all sectors of society.

She noted that individuals, private organisations, and international partners must pool resources and expertise to ensure effective care and sustainable support systems for patients across all social classes.

Dr Wiafe Addai described the current global health landscape as one marked by interconnected healthcare delivery systems and widespread wealth, yet plagued by persistent poverty.

“The world is globalised with interconnected healthcare delivery systems, and wealth, as it says, abounds. However, the cruel irony is that poverty is equally widespread, reflecting an unjust global economic order,” she stated.

Dr Wiafe Addai, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Peace and Love Hospitals in Ghana, observed that the rising burden of disease has made it necessary to attract and integrate additional support systems to help finance medical bills, particularly for the marginalised poor.

She explained that sustainable partnerships and innovative financial models are essential to ensure that patients are not denied treatment due to a lack of funds.

Dr Wiafe Addai further lamented what she described as a disturbing global trend of dissipated wealth following the death of wealthy individuals who die intestate.

According to her, improved estate planning and responsible wealth management could significantly contribute to healthcare projects and provide support for vulnerable patients.

The World Cancer Day event was held under the global theme “United by Unique,” which emphasises person-centred care and highlights individual stories within cancer journeys.

The initiative seeks to promote empathy, equity, and innovation in cancer treatment by focusing on the unique experiences of patients and survivors.

Dr Wiafe Addai encouraged stakeholders to adopt global best practices in healthcare financing.

“The future demands diversification in funding medical bills, indeed, a proven mechanism capable of preserving both individual and family wealth posthumously for the common good. We cannot reinvent the wheel, so we must model our procedures on global best practices,” she said.

She concluded by challenging Ghanaians and global partners to redefine the meaning of legacy by supporting the establishment of an Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Hub.

“On this World Cancer Day, I wish to challenge us to expand the meaning of legacy and redirect it towards establishing our own stand-alone Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Hub,” she urged.