The Trust Hospital Company Limited has launched this year’s breast cancer awareness campaign with a call on the public, especially women, to prioritise regular screening for early detection and treatment.

This year’s campaign was on the theme, United for Hope: prioritising care and sharing narratives, which aimed to intensify public education, screening and support services on breast cancer throughout October.

It would also feature free breast screening at all Trust Hospital facilities and outreach programmes targeting schools, churches, corporate institutions and communities.

The launch, held at the Trust Specialist Hospital on Wednesday, October 1, brought together management, health professionals, survivors, and members of the public, with a strong call for Ghanaians to prioritise breast health.

Commitment

Declaring the month-long campaign launched, the Head of the Medical Unit and executive member of Pink October Planning Committee, Dr Jumana Sfarjilani, said breast cancer continued to claim many lives worldwide, hence the need for proactive efforts.

The physician specialist reaffirmed the hospital’s mission and said it went beyond providing healthcare to actively promoting wellness and safeguarding communities. “This month, we reaffirm our commitment to raising public awareness through education and free screening,” she said.

She urged the public to stand in solidarity with survivors and those battling the disease, as awareness, encouragement, and early detection were critical to them

Encouragement

A prominent Ghanaian business leader, marketing consultant and CEO of AFRIBIZ Group Limited, Janet Sunkwa-Mills, who shared a personal scare with breast cancer symptoms, described the emotional trauma women often endured.

“That period of uncertainty is really excruciating and traumatic.

My experience has inspired me to support survivors because I know it is very difficult,” she said

She encouraged participants to remain resilient, urging them to be “grounded” in spirituality, personal identity, family, profession, and finances, as these provided strength in turbulent times such as a breast cancer diagnosis.

Expanding reach

The Chief of Medical Staff, Dr Nana Ama Abankwa, said last year’s campaign screened over 9,300 men and women across churches, schools, corporate bodies and communities.

She said, however, that the target for this year was 10,000.

“This year, we hope to cross the 10,000 mark,” she said.

She further said beyond screening, "we also want to share the stories of survivors to give hope that breast cancer is not the end.

With early diagnosis and treatment adherence, survival is possible’’.