Cardinal Namdini Mining Ltd. (CNML) recently held a two-day breast cancer awareness and screening exercise for residents of its two host communities, Digaare and Biung, in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region. The exercise was part of activities marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month and also benefited employees and subcontractors of the gold mining company.
The campaign, held under the theme "Building a Sustainable Future Through Responsible Mining and Healthy Communities," aimed to educate women on breast cancer, promote early detection, and provide screening services to help identify suspected cases for further medical assessment. Sanitary pads were also distributed to women and schoolchildren in the two communities.
According to Superintendent for Local Content and Stakeholder Grievance Management at CNML, Godwin Sebil Bade-Daamir, the initiative was part of the company's corporate social responsibility efforts towards the health and wellbeing of its host communities. He emphasized the importance of raising awareness about breast cancer, given the disease's impact and the need for early detection.
The exercise targeted women in the host communities, with approximately 59 women participating in the first day's screening at Digaare and an increase to around 100 on the second day in the Biung community. Medical professionals determined whether participants required further assessment. The campaign also targeted schoolchildren to equip them with knowledge they could share with their mothers and other women in their families.
A staff midwife at the Accra Site Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound, Anyenera Matilda Ayinpoka, said the exercise provided an opportunity to educate women on breast cancer and demonstrate how to examine their breasts for possible warning signs. She advised women to seek medical attention when they notice unusual changes, including lumps, changes in breast size or shape, persistent pain, and redness.
During the screening exercise at Digaare, two women were referred to the regional hospital for further assessment after medical personnel identified signs requiring additional investigation. Beneficiaries, Janet Nkulba and Diana Sobil, welcomed the exercise, saying it was their first experience with breast cancer screening and that the awareness created had encouraged them to pay closer attention to changes in their breasts.
Assembly Member for the Datuko Electoral Area, Ayariga Mahamadu, commended Cardinal Namdini for the initiative, describing it as an important contribution to the health of women and children in the area. The two-day campaign forms part of the company's efforts to promote the wellbeing of communities affected by its mining operations, underlining the importance of health alongside responsible mining and community development.
Key points
- The exercise was part of Cardinal Namdini Mining Ltd.'s corporate social responsibility efforts towards the health and wellbeing of its host communities.
- The campaign targeted women in the host communities, with approximately 159 women participating in the two-day screening exercise.
- Two women were referred to the regional hospital for further assessment after medical personnel identified signs requiring additional investigation.
