HESA's "Walk for Cure" Unites Thousands in Ejisu

The month of October ignites the flames of breast cancer awareness and reminds us of a quote by Dr. Mrs. Beatrice Wiafe, “Breast cancer is curable; don’t allow it to kill you”. During the 2024 campaign, an annual health walk was organized by Breast Care International to remind people of its essence.

In a parallel effort, the HESA Health Officer, Stephen Debrah Aduse-Poku, coordinated a similar event titled Walk for Cure to further amplify the campaign’s reach. The event aimed to raise breast cancer awareness and educate the public on early detection and the importance of timely medical intervention. It took place on the 12^th of October 2024 in Ejisu, Kumasi, spanning five hours with over 20,000 participants from diverse backgrounds – including students, professionals, breast cancer survivors and key stakeholders.

The event proved highly successful achieving all its intended goals. Notably, it became the largest breast cancer awareness initiative ever held in the country, marking a historic milestone in public health advocacy. A heartfelt acknowledgement goes to Dr. Mrs. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, CEO of Breast Care International, whose unwavering dedication has been instrumental in driving this life-saving mission. Her tireless efforts continue to combat the devastating impact of breast cancer and inspire hope nationwide.

The event culminated with an online seminar organized by HESA Health Officer, Stephen Debrah Aduse-Poku, designed to educate health sciences students about breast cancer and the roles each faculty and department play in combating the disease. Experts from the various healthcare sectors – all actively involved in breast cancer treatment and management – were brought together to highlight the importance of an interprofessional approach. Their insights emphasized collaborative strategies to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Among the participating experts were Mr. Bernard Anane Gyamfi, Dr. Kingsley Ohene Keteku, Dr. Ebenezer Wiafe, Dr. Akwasi Asante, Mr. Prince De-Gualle Deku and Mr. Hamza Ibrahim

The program successfully achieved all its goals, effectively educating students about how each profession can contribute to optimal breast cancer care. Sincere gratitude to all facilitators  for their dedication in teaching health sciences students about the power of teamwork in fighting breast cancer. Their efforts truly made this initiative impactful.

Reported by – Mariam P. Agyemang (GPSA)

The Health Sciences Chronicle