Kufuor to raise funds for breast cancer patients

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October, the UN-designated breast cancer month, may pass this year without much notice, as COVID-19 continues to inhibit mass public gatherings, but not for Breast Care International, Africa’s lead campaigner against breast cancer.

BCI, not ready to be outdone by the global pandemic, has devised a strategy to keep the awareness creation campaign alive with a two-tier fund-raising cocktail events in Kumasi on Saturday October 10, 2020 followed by another in Accra, on Saturday October 24, 2020.

“We are innovatively keeping with tradition as we refuse to let the ravages of COVID-19 crowd out our voice and blight our annual public awareness creation programs on breast cancer”, declared a determined Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, President of Breast Care International.

The two events are under the distinguished patronage of Former President, John Agyekum Kufuor, whose association with BCI dates back to several years ago, and in Sunyani about six years ago where he identified with our core objectives of reducing the mortality of breast cancer through mass public education and free clinical breast screening.

“Traditionally, the month of October is designated and dedicated to breast cancer, and BCI rides on the global declaration to showcase survivorship and instill confidence in the public that the disease is curable and could be survived, if reported on time upon detection to health facilities”, She assured.

Explaining further, Dr. Wiafe, also the CEO of the Peace and Love Hospitals, in a press statement issued and signed in Accra to announce the two events, said “COVID -19 with its attendant protocols on social/physical distancing and mass public gathering, worsened by the devastating effects on the economy, had combined to preclude us from organizing our annual mammoth flagship program, dubbed “BCI Ghana walk for the cure”, which event was earmarked to take place in Kumasi this year”.

“Though unhappy, we remain resolute and undaunted”, she continued, adding “we owe it to our constituents to sustain the awareness creation programs, support vulnerable patients, hence the fundraising events to celebrate our survivors and to forcefully restate our mission statement of stamping out breast cancer in the foreseeable future.”

This has become more imperative as the media understandably focuses more on covid-19, though observation during the covid-19 period has rather witnessed a surge in late reporting of cases to hospitals, a situation we partly attribute to low income levels.

The statement implored multi- nationals, corporate entities and high net worth individuals and philanthropists to generously contribute to save the lives of breast cancer patients, majority of whom are regrettably poor, but have dependents.

The Kumasi and Accra fundraising events, are varied, indoor versions of the annual walk program, and we are convinced the supporting public will sustain the decades long support of our activities by donating generously to support a worthy cause, the statement concluded.

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