African governments must tackle barriers impeding breast cancer fight

International researchers, health professionals, and experts have called on Africa governments to tackle socio-cultural barriers impeding the fight against breast and other cancers on the continent.

 
Those barriers, including cultural and traditional beliefs, did not only hamper early detection and treatment, but also fuelled societal stigmatisation and discrimination of patients. 

These negative practices often discouraged patients from accessing early treatment options and medication but rather, opt for alternatives, including herbal medicines, thereby worsening their health conditions.

 
The two-day capacity workshop being organised by Ghanaian-based Precision Medicine for Aggressive Breast Cancer (PMABC), a cancer research and education Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), drew participants from Rwanda, Ghana, Tanzania and the United States, and aimed at addressing the barriers and improving sustainable support systems.

 
Dr Kwabena Agbedinu, a Surgeon at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital at the opening ceremony, said breast cancer remained the most diagnosed among the cancers, with a resultant high mortality rate in Ghana.

 
In 2022, it was estimated that 2.3 million new breast cancer cases were diagnosed with approximately 666,000 deaths globally and accounted for approximately 18.4 percent of all cancer cases in Ghana with 5,026 cases a year.

 
Dr Agbedinu said for countries in Africa to make head way in the fight against breast cancer, wrong perception of the public on breast and related cancers ought to be tackled proactively.

 
He said it was untrue that breast cancers were linked to ancestral punishment, family curse, witchcraft, wizardry and spirituality, and cautioned the public against spreading such beliefs.

 
Dr Agbedinu said if detected in the early stages and put on drugs, breast cancers could be treated, and because of the wrong perception and societal stigma, most patients only visited the hospital when their condition had worsened.

 
He therefore called for strong collaboration between health professional, traditional healers and religious organisations to support patients in the fight against cancers.

 
Camille Jimenez, the Programme Lead for the Institute of Transnational Equitable Medicine and Health Equity Officer, Global Medical Grants and Partnership, said cases of breast cancers had doubled in the past 30 years in Africa.

 
She expressed worry that breast cancers were about 40 percent high in Africa, remaining higher in Ghana and the sub-Saharan region.

 
She said there was the need to provide the training and capacity building needed to strengthen research infrastructure in the Sub-Saharan region.

 
Dr Evelyn Mawunyo Jiagge, the Director, PMABC, added that bringing together expertise and knowledge sharing as well as identifying best practices could greatly help in the fight against breast and related cancers.

 
Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani East constituency, called for intensified public awareness creation, saying that would help patients seek early medication and treatment.