Manganese Ladies Association of the Ghana Manganese Company Limited has organised free breast screening exercise for more than 700 women in its host communities.

The beneficiaries were drawn from surrounding communities of the company including Anonakokrom, Charlekrom, Tamso, Kwamenakrom, Akyempim, Bankyim, Senyakrom and Akyem in the Western Region.

Mrs Cynthia Tetteh, Secretary of the group, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that an amount of Gh¢10,000.00 was spent on the exercise.

She said the group was committed to the effort of eradicating breast cancer and had for the past two years, held similar exercises for 600 women.

She disclosed that last year, out of 400 women screened, eight were diagnosed with suspected cases of breast cancer and were referred to the GMC Hospital at Nsuta Wassa to undergo further examination and treatment.

The Manganeses ladies, she said, comprised of all women working in the GMC Limited who believe in investing in the communities they operated in.

Mrs Tetteh expressed appreciation to the management of GMC Limited for sponsoring the health programmes.

Madam Evelyn Ampon, Principal Community Health nurse at Nsuta, sensitized the women on causes and symptoms of breast cancer, and said no test had so far revealed the causes of the disease.

She explained that "when the shape or colour of the breasts changes, as well as sores, and rashes developing around the breast could be possible signs of breast cancer".

Madam Ampon therefore called on women to report to any health centre for proper medical care when they noticed unusual change in their breasts instead of using herbs to fight breast cancer.

"It is very important for women to visit the hospital regularly to have their breasts examined," she added.

The principal community health nurse encouraged women to practice personal hygiene as this would reduce their chances of contracting the disease.