The Ghana AIDS Commission and the Office of the First Lady, Lordina Mahama, have partnered to bring breast cancer and HIV services to the Nungua community in the Greater Accra Region. The health outreach, held at the forecourt of the Nungua Traditional Council, aimed to provide preventive healthcare services closer to residents and encourage them to know their health status. This initiative is part of a broader effort to improve access to screening, early diagnosis, and care for breast cancer and HIV.
Breast cancer is a significant health concern in Ghana, with an estimated 5,487 new cases and 2,695 deaths recorded in 2024. However, a study using data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey found that only 18.4 per cent of women surveyed had undergone breast cancer screening. This highlights a substantial gap between the burden of the disease and efforts to detect it early. The outreach event provided an opportunity for women to access breast examinations and other essential health services.
The HIV component of the outreach is also crucial, as Ghana continues to grapple with new infections despite progress in treatment and prevention. According to the 2025 National HIV Estimates and Projections, there are 337,435 people living with HIV in Ghana, with 13,951 new infections recorded during the year. The Greater Accra Region alone accounts for an estimated 77,512 people living with the virus. Health officials emphasize that expanding access to testing is critical to identifying undiagnosed infections and reducing further transmission.
The outreach event offered a range of health services, including breast cancer screening, HIV testing and counselling, and malaria screening. Representing the First Lady, Lordina Mahama, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, called for stronger support for people affected by breast cancer. She emphasized the importance of early detection, access to treatment, and support for survivors, highlighting the impact of a diagnosis on employment, household income, and caregiving responsibilities.
Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, said that taking health services directly into communities is an important strategy for removing barriers to healthcare and encouraging preventive practices. He noted that this approach makes it easier for people to take care of their health while carrying out their daily activities, particularly for market women, traders, drivers, head porters, young people, and other community members who may find it difficult to visit health facilities during working hours.
Two breast cancer survivors who shared their experiences at the outreach event emphasized that a diagnosis should not be a death sentence, particularly when the disease is detected early and patients receive necessary care and support. The outreach brought together breast cancer awareness, HIV prevention, and other essential health services, reinforcing the importance of routine screening and knowing one's health status.
The outreach event was successful, with over 500 people screened for breast cancer and tested for HIV. Health authorities face the challenge of ensuring that such community interventions translate into sustained screening, early diagnosis, treatment, and continued care beyond the outreach. The collaboration between the Ghana AIDS Commission and the Office of the First Lady is a step towards addressing the gaps in breast cancer and HIV services in the community.
Key points
- The Ghana AIDS Commission and the Office of the First Lady have partnered to provide breast cancer and HIV services to the Nungua community.
- The outreach event offered a range of health services, including breast cancer screening, HIV testing and counselling, and malaria screening.
- Over 500 people were screened for breast cancer and tested for HIV at the event.
