A Paramount Chief of Tepa in the Ashanti Region has adviced women to allow their partners to fondle and suck their breasts in order to help in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.
Nana Adusei Atwenewaa Ampem I, explained that, men have an important role to play in preventing the disease in their partners, and they should enjoy doing so.
He stated that, “We men have a role to play in detecting the disease early because we fondle and suck breasts every day. I urge you to notify your partner if you feel anything unusual when fondling her breast, so that the disease can be detected and treated early.
“I’ll also beg you ladies to let your husbands fondle your breasts. If you are a man and do not enjoy fondling or sucking breasts, please from today do it.”
He was speaking at the 10th edition of the Breast Care International (BCI) Walk for the Cure in Tepa, Nana Ampem I, also urged the public to stop attributing the disease to spirituality and instead visit health facilities, particularly the Peace and Love Hospital, for meaningful treatment.
While appealing to the government to support the BCI’s activities, he promised to offer a parcel of land to the Peace and Love Hospital to establish a branch in Tepa to aid in the treatment of breast cancer and related diseases in the enclave.
For his part, Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana, Imane Quaadil, pledged in a brief speech that the Moroccan Embassy will continue to support and commit to the Breast Care International (BCI) in its activities in the coming years.
Dr. Beatrice Addai Wiafe, President of BCI, also revealed that, more than 2,000 Ghanaian women die of breast cancer each year, and there is a need to reverse the trend.
She further indicated that, to her, one of the factors preventing many women from seeking treatment in health care facilities is stereotyping.
Due to this, she stated that public education is critical in educating people about the importance of knowing that breast cancer is curable and survivable in order to overcome fears and stigma.
She believes that, the move will go a long way toward encouraging people to embrace breast cancer screening and eradicating the stigma.
She again urged the government to establish social intervention programs aimed at assisting women diagnosed with breast cancer, given the high cost of medication.
The President of breast cancer survivors Association of Ghana, Vivian Gyasi Sarfo, and her colleagues also indicated that, treatment of the disease is very expensive, which is affecting many of them financially.
They therefore pleaded with the government to subsidize their medication in order to save many more lives.
Thousands of people from various sectors and communities, including the Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana, the Director General of NADMO, the Ahafo Ano North District Chief Executive, health officials, market women, and students, took part in this year’s BCI Walk for the Cure at Tepa.
