The Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Mrs. Abigail Akwambea Elorm Mensah, has encouraged women to prioritize regular breast screening and allow their spouses to assist in detecting early signs of breast cancer.
She noted that early detection is key to saving lives and preventing avoidable complications associated with the disease.
Mrs. Mensah made these remarks when MASLOC organized a free breast screening and health education exercise for market women at the Lapaz Community Market in the Okaikwei North Municipality as part of activities marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“Every year, October is set aside globally to raise awareness on breast cancer, and as MASLOC, we work closely with women across various markets,” she explained.
“We decided to bring this screening exercise to a busy market area to help educate, detect, and possibly prevent breast cancer among our clients and the community. Early detection saves lives, and we want our women to understand that.”
She emphasized the role of partners in supporting breast health, advising women to involve their spouses in checking for unusual changes in their breast tissues.
“The women should allow their men to help them check if they are unable to do it on their own. Men also get breast cancer, so they should also allow their women to check their breasts for them,” she noted. “In any case where there is a suspected lump or abnormality, they must visit a health facility immediately for professional diagnosis.”
Mrs. Mensah shared that the initiative also stems from real-life testimonies from participants at the event.
“Some of the women here have spoken about losing their mothers to breast cancer. These are not stories we want to continue hearing,” she said. “We do not want to lose our clients or any Ghanaian woman to breast cancer simply because they were not informed or screened early.”
She explained that the choice of Lapaz Community Market was intentional due to its high population density and the large number of MASLOC clients and traders in the area.
“Lapaz is very densely populated, and many of our clients work here. By bringing the screening closer, we ensure more people benefit. We also partnered with the Member of Parliament for Okaikwei North, Hon. Theresa Ladi Awuni, because this is her constituency and she has been supportive of community-centered development activities.”
Hon. Theresa Ladi Awuni commended MASLOC for the initiative and urged women to take advantage of such opportunities to improve their health.
The screening exercise forms part of a broader awareness campaign MASLOC intends to continue across selected markets in the country during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
