The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has officially launched the GNAT Cancer Foundation (GCF) at the Sweden Ghana Medical Centre (SGMC) in Accra. This initiative marks a significant step forward in the fight against cancer among educators in Ghana.
Addressing the gathering during the unveiling ceremony, the General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Musah in a speech read on his behalf highlighted the foundations critical role, “With the establishment of the GNAT Cancer Foundation, we now have a well fledge non-profit organization, mandated to oversee the prudent administration of cancer care for our members” ; he said.
The foundation is tasked to lead cancer prevention public education, to raise funds, and ensure its effective management to support the cancer treatment and management for GNAT members and their families among others.
GNAT represents over 260,000 educators whose dedication underpins the nation’s educational system. Ensuring the health and welfare of these educators is paramount.
The General Secretary emphasized, “Health is the foundation on which every human endeavor stands. To improve teachers’ productivity, their health concerns must be taken seriously and addressed adequately. The GNAT Cancer Foundation will focus on taking away the burden of cancer care, relieving our dear teachers with the condition from the burden of having to self-finance their treatment. To carry out their mandate, they will need the collective support of all of us to support the nationwide fundraising drive that will kick off soon”.
Strategic Vision and Goals
The Board Chair of GNAT Cancer Foundation, Mr. Thomas Asante Armstrong spoke about the Foundation’s vision and launched a call to action to support the activities of the entity. He said “GNAT Cancer Foundation’s primary vision is to ensure the sustainable and stress-free cancer management for GNAT members and their eligible families”. The foundation’s strategy includes three key priorities:
- Increasing cancer prevention awareness and education.
- Facilitating world-class treatment and management of cancer cases.
- Effective resource mobilization and management to ensure sustainability.
Call to Action for Support
To enable the Foundation deliver on its mandate, the newly launched charity is launching a fundraising campaign to garner support from corporate entities, philanthropic organizations, development partners, and the general public. The campaign aims to mobilize resources necessary for sustaining cancer care efforts.
“We are launching a nationwide campaign dubbed GHC5 for my teacher, to solicit the public’s support for this noble cause through a short code. This will be communicated in the coming weeks. Additionally, we are calling on Corporate Ghana, members of the diplomatic corps, development organizations to come on board and support us on this worthy cause”.
The Chief Executive Officer of SGMC, Dr. Clement Edusa, highlighted the growing cancer burden and the rising cost of treatment in Ghana. He called on both local and international supporters to join in backing the GNAT Cancer Foundation. “Together, we can intensify the fight against cancer and ensure that every educator has access to the care they need”, he said.
The Foundation sees the media as advocates and champions of its cause and has encouraged members of the media to support the cause by a vital role as advocates and champions of this cause by creating awareness about cancer prevention and the fundraising drive of the Foundation.
About GNAT Cancer Foundation
The GNAT Cancer Foundation is dedicated to improving cancer care for GNAT members and their families through education, treatment, and management. It represents a commitment to the health and well-being of educators, ensuring they receive the necessary support to continue their vital work in shaping the nation’s future.
