Over a thousand women and men have participated in a walk against breast cancer in the Upper West regional capital, Wa.

Held on Saturday, October 26, 2019, the walk which was organised by ExLA Group in collaboration with ActionAid Ghana and supported by the Department of Gender in the Upper West Region, was to sensitise women and create awareness among the general public on the breast cancer disease as well as the best ways to detect and cure it.

It was under the theme, “Save a Breast, Secure a Nation”.

The one-and-a-half hours walk which started from the Jubilee Park and ended at Regional Coordinating Council through the principal streets of Wa, amidst brass band music with breast cancer awareness paraphernalia and placards, saw and enjoyed the massive support and participation of some key stakeholders within the region.

These included the Member of Parliament for Wa Central Constituency, Hon. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo; wife of the Regional Minister, Mrs. Rihanna Hafiz; Chairman of PNC, Mr. Bernard Monah; Regional Director for Department of Gender, Ms. Charity Bature; Regional Girls Education Officer, Madam Anna Cleta; Head of Pathology Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development Studies Tamale, Dr. Der Muonir Edmund; Upper West Regional Manager for ActionAid Ghana, Mr. George Dery and the ever vibrant internationally acclaimed performer, Wiyaala Noela among others.

This was followed by a mini-rally which saw the key stakeholders pledging their support for the fight against breast cancer.

There were a number of performances from local artistes from Wa and its environs which was heightened with a breath-taking performance by Wiyaala, all in a bid to sensitise women against the breast cancer disease.

In his speech and purpose for the occasion, the Executive Director for ExLA Group, Mr. Daniel Osei Tuffuor revealed further that, the walk was part of a 5-year-project being embarked on by the body dubbed, “Operation Wa”.

This project, ultimately, according to him, will lead to the establishment of a cancer treatment plant in Wa, the first of its kind to be established in any other region apart from the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions of Ghana. This will enable women who detect symptoms and signs of breast cancer to seek treatment without having to travel to the southern part of the country.

On his part, the Upper West Regional Manager for ActionAid Ghana, Mr. George Dery reiterated ActionAid’s commitment to women’s development especially in the area of health. He urged the women in the Upper West Region to take advantage of the campaign and have their breasts checked.

The walk was then climaxed with a free breast cancer screening which got 520 women screened for the breast cancer disease.

With an array of qualified and experienced medical personnel including a Pathologist, participants received free consultations on how to protect themselves against breast cancer and isolated cases of cancer symptoms and signs were referred to appropriate quarters accordingly.