Journal of Women's Health Care
Open Access
ISSN: 2167-0420
ISSN: 2167-0420
Beatrice Wiafe Addai
C.E.O.of Peace and Love Hospitals, President and Founder BCI America, Breast Care International
Keynote: J Women's Health Care
Breast cancer is rapidly becoming a growing public health problem in Sub Saharan Africa. According to the literature, breast cancer has the highest mortality among women and the most common cause of hospital admissions in Ghana. Despite the lack of a national cancer registry, it is estimated by GLOBOCAN that 24,009 new cases of cancer occur annually in Ghana out of which 15,802 die. The most common cancers, according to the report, are breast, (4,482-2,055), liver, (3,45-3,166) cervix (2,797-1,69), and prostrate (2,129-1,117). There has been a surge in cancer cases since 2018, a situation which calls for urgent attention because breast cancer is no more a matter of public health concern, it is both a developmental and economic concern. It is the leading cause of death among Ghanaian women as far as cancers are concerned. Ghanaian women are disproportionately diagnosed at earlier age (mean age of 43 years), with highgrade tumours that are more aggressive than caucasians, who are usually diagnosed around 62years. Late presentation accounts for the high mortality and morbidity. Reasons for delayed presentation include lack of awareness and education, ignorance, severe social stigma, fear of diagnosis and treatment. To address the alarming rate by which women present late for diagnosis, Breast Care International has been implementing breast cancer education and awareness programs coupled with clinical breast screenings throughout the country. However, despite aggressive campaigns to improve early detection, there are still a high number of late stage presentations indicating that there is still the need for a more aggressive approach. This presentation plans to discuss the multifaceted Breast Health Management model developed by Breast Care International in collaboration with the Peace and Love Hospitals as an innovative approach to tackle late stage presentation of breast cancer in Ghana.
Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai has 31 years experience as a Medical officer in Ghana; thus from 1989 to Date. She has been a Breast Surgeon for the past twelve years and a consultant in Breast Cancer Management. Her training and wide scope of study as a specialist Breast Pathologist and a surgeon has placed her at a convenient exposition as the Chief Executive Officer and the Senior Medical Officer of the Peace and Love Hospital both in Accra and Kumasi; a specialist hospital that is championing the course of Breast Cancer and its related diseases in Ghana.Due to her charisma, Dr. Wiafe Addai is known as a fine role model and inspiration to women and society as a whole and the quest for a unique professionalism as far as patients care and welfare are concerned. By God’s grace and her endowed knowledge, hundreds of women have been healed of various diseases through her directives particularly Breast Cancer.