In collaboration with Claron Health International, the Greater Accra Chapter of the Forestry Commission Ladies Association (FCLA), marked the Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October), under the theme, “Stop the Stigma! Be Supportive!”.
The programme, marked with a Health Talk and breast screening session, had in attendance staff from the Forestry Commission’s (FC) Head Office, Greater Accra Regional and Amasaman District Offices.
Madam Mary Balkono, Deputy Human Resource Manager of the Wildlife Division in addressing the gathering, welcomed all present, expressed sincere appreciation for each person’s participation and admonished staff to fully immerse themselves into the day’s event by taking the opportunity as a learning experience.
Staff present were taken through a presentation on Breast Cancer by Mr. Blaise Akom, a nurse with Claron Health International and Madina Polyclinic. He talked about types of cancers, mentioning cervical cancer as another type that afflicts women. He advised staff on the type of undergarments to wear and urged especially women, from age thirty to take a Pap smear test (the test for cervical cancer) annually. He further admonished women to desist from inserting substances into their intimate areas and only use water when cleaning this area.
On breast cancer, he advised that everyone examines at least once a month and demonstrated how to use the palm to check for lumps in the breast for early detection. He mentioned that these lumps called tumors, occur when tissues in the breast grow irrepressibly. He took staff through some causes, risk factors, symptoms and reminded staff that a breast cancer diagnosis does not mean a person is doomed. Mr. Akom also shared a documentary on a breast cancer survivor’s story. “The treatment for breast cancer is very expensive and extensive”, he explained, as he showed how painful and costly chemotherapy was, stating it as one of the means for managing breast cancer.
The programme came to an end with an interactive and breast screening sessions for the staff.
