Health News of Tuesday, 15 May 2012

Source: Al-Hajj

Ghana Ranked 10th In The Burden Of Breast Cancer,

2,062 WOMEN WERE DIAGNOSED IN 2010.

From: Alhaji Bashiru Zakari, Kumasi.
It has now been established that in every 68 seconds, somewhere around the world a woman dies from breast cancer.
In 2010, over 1,300,000 women died from breast cancer globally, and 2,062 women were diagnosed with the disease in Ghana, a country which ranks 10th in burden of disease in Africa according to Globacan sources.
Dr. (Mrs.) Beatrice Wiafe Addai who made the disclosure at the Media Launch of the Second Edition of the Susan G. Komen Ghana Race for the Cure of Breast Cancer in Kumasi however said, breast cancer can be cured if there is an early diagnosis.
The 2012 Edition of the Race/walk is under the theme;”Get Involved, Together We Race for The Cure.” Susan G. Komen Ghana Race for the Cure in Partnership with Breast Care International (BCI), a leading Breast Cancer Awareness creation and Research Organization in Ghana is expected to attract between 15,000 and 20,000 participants both young and old to contribute towards winning the race in the search for a Cure.
Participants would converge on Wednesday, May, 25, 2012, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium; start the walk/race, through some principal streets in Kumasi to create awareness of the disease by distributing flyers on breast cancer.
“BCI thought it timely to bring the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to Ghana, as we believe that in our own inimitable and special Ghanaian way, we could contribute to raising awareness on this disease, which affects us all in varying degrees – women, men and children.
“This event would focus on a serious issue-preventing the untimely death from breast cancer. However, we aim to have fun in the process. Highlights at the end of the walk would include a concert and glimpses into the lives of some cancer survivors.” She noted.
Dr. (Mrs.) Beatrice Wiafe Addai, a Global Ambassador for Breast Cancer, is the President of Breast Care International (BCI), and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Peace and Love Hospitals in Accra and Kumasi.
The Global Ambassador for Breast Cancer, appealed to corporate organizations to join in raising even more awareness of this event by offering their time, products, services or donating towards this very worthy cause.
“Please do join us in this Race to spread the word that early detection of breast cancer may lead to high survival rates” she added.
Susan G. Komen Race, founded 29years ago by Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker as a promise to her sister Susan who died at the age of 36,is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.
Breast Care International(BCI), is a subsidiary of the Peace and Love Hospitals in Accra and Kumasi, which are also members of the Global Breast Health Initiative which was officially launched in Ghana in 2008, have for the past years been championing the fight against breast cancer in Ghana and therefore represented Ghana at major world events. END.