As part of efforts to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Eastern Regional Hospital has reduced the cost of ultrasound scans for breast cancer screening from GHC100 to GHC20.
The initiative is aimed at encouraging more women to access early detection services and receive timely treatment.
The Medical Director of the Eastern Regional Hospital, Dr. Akoto Ampaw, stressed the importance of early detection in saving lives but expressed concern that the hospital, which serves as a referral facility, lacks a functional mammogram machine.
He noted that this shortcoming limits the hospital’s ability to offer comprehensive breast cancer screening services.
“The one which is even more important in the detection of Breast Cancer is the Mammogram and as we speak now the region does not have a functional mammogram and we are working hard to partner some private people to set it up so in line with breast cancer mammography is number one for us”.
The Medical Director said this in an interview with the media at a symposium held by the hospital in collaboration with Awuah -Darko Foundation under the theme : “No One Should Face Breast Cancer Alone”. It is part of activities by the Hospital to observe breast cancer month which falls on October every month.
Dr. Foster Amponsah Manu, Head of the Surgical Department at the hospital, also raised alarms about the rising incidence of breast cancer and related deaths. He called on the government to equip all regional hospitals with the necessary tools to provide holistic and affordable services to breast cancer patients. “Every regional hospital should have the full complement of equipment to improve access and reduce the financial burden on patients,” he said.
Meanwhile, breast cancer survivors in the Eastern Region have expressed concern about the escalating cost of treatment.
Patience Amakuor, a survivor diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer in 2016, appealed to the government to fully incorporate breast cancer treatment costs, including chemotherapy and radiation, into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). “The high costs are forcing many to abandon treatment, leading to more deaths,” she stated.
Amakuor, speaking on behalf of nearly 100 survivors, shared that chemotherapy treatments can cost up to GHC750 per cycle, with additional expenses for medications, laboratory tests, and follow-up treatments.
She urged the government to make essential drugs and breast prostheses more affordable or free of charge, noting that the high costs are preventing many patients from accessing the care they need.
Globally, breast cancer continues to pose a significant health threat. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, leading to 670,000 deaths.
In Ghana, an estimated 4,000 women are diagnosed annually, with many succumbing to the disease due to late detection and unaffordable treatment options.
As part of the breast cancer awareness month, staff of the Eastern Regional Hospital joined by Fire Service ladies embarked on a float on the streets of Koforidua to create awareness.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
