Health News of Thursday, 28 June 2012

Source: GNA

Vice President inaugurates a multi-million cedi cancer centre in Accra

Vice President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated a multi-million cedi medical centre that will provide specialized breast and prostrate cancer treatment in the country.

The Sweden Ghana Medical Centre (SGMC) which was financed by Global Medical Investments of Sweden and some Ghanaian investors located at Ajiringano, East Legon, would offer radiotherapy (the use of radiation to cure cancer) and chemotherapy (the use of surgery for cancer treatment) service.

Vice President Mahama, who jointly inaugurated the project with former President John Agyekum Kufuor and the wife of the Asantehene, said the facility would be instrumental in health delivery since cancer was one of the leading diseases in Ghana besides malaria, hypertension and other chronic diseases.

He said it was only the Korle Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals that had cancer treatment centres in the country and that the establishment of the SGMC would significantly support cancer treatment in the country and those within the West African sub region.

Mr. Thomas Pollar, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre, said the facility would use modern equipment to ensure early detection and treatment of cancer and urged the public to check their status to ensure early treatment of the disease.

The Board Chairman of SGMC, Mr. Henry Broni, expressed concern that many people continued to suffer from cancer due to ignorance saying it was important for one to attend frequent medical checkups.**