Kumasi, Feb 16, GNA - Breast Care International (BCI), a Kumasi-based breast cancer awareness organization, has presented drugs worth 250,000 dollars to three health institutions for free treatment of cancer and HIV patients.

They are the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and the Agona-Asamang Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Hospital in the Sekyere South District.

The drugs were donated by the National Cancer Coalition of Raleigh, US, under a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BCI to collaborate in medical relief programmes to assist underserved cancer patients in Ghana. Dr (Mrs) Beatrice Wiafe Addai, Chief Executive of BCI, said they were for the treatment of breast cancers, endometrial cancers, colon-rectal cancers, paediatric leukaemia and adjunctive therapies for patients taking chemotherapies as well as treatment of weight loss in HIV-AIDS patients. She said about 1,000 underserved patients are anticipated to benefit. Dr Addai, who is also the CEO of Peace and Love Hospital at Oduom in Kumasi, said since cancer drugs are not covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) the donation has come as a relief.

Mr James Asamoah Darko, Pharmacist in-charge of the Oncology Directorate of KATH, thanked the management of BCI and said it would help reduce the burden cancer patients go through in accessing drugs. 16 Feb 10