 Komen Gives Ghana's Cancer Epedmic the Red Light By Libb Erty
With help from actress Gabrielle Union, philanthropist and wife of Chris Rock, Malaak Rock and activist Billye Aaron, wife of baseball great Hank Aaron, Susan G. Komen for the Cure (R) expanded its mission to Africa this past October. Unbeknownst to many, the continent of Africa has a staggering cancer burden and a disproportionate number of breast cancer-related deaths.
In combat of these tolling death rates, Komen for the Cure, global leader of the breast cancer movement, inaugurated the Ghana Breast Cancer Alliance by presenting an international breast cancer symposium in Accra, Ghana on Oct. 16th. The following day the Komen representatives, Union, Rock and Aaron, traveled to Kumasi to join Ghana President John Kufuor for a dedication ceremony at the new HopeXchange Medical Center, a state-of-the-art breast cancer diagnostic and treatment facility. “I'm hoping to dispel some very prevalent myths about what causes breast cancer and to break down some barriers for Ghanaian women," said Union. "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem-- so do breast self-exams and go see a doctor. Early diagnosis and treatment will literally save your life." The symposium was the opening highlight of an intensive, four-day Komen-sponsored mission delegation trip to Ghana. Ghana is just one of several low- to middle-income countries Komen is focusing on based upon the country’s need, relative political and economic stability, and the willingness of its high-ranking government officials and many non-governmental officials to work together in building capacity to address its rising breast cancer mortality rates. Komen President and CEO Hala Moddelmog led a delegation composed of physicians, researchers, advocates, survivors and celebrities. During the event symposium attendees from around the world learned about the complex mix of issues that currently stand in the way of Ghanaian women receiving needed breast health and breast cancer care. “Once a country has the infrastructure in place to detect, diagnose and treat breast cancer, it opens the door to the successful treatment of many other cancers,” explained Moddelmog. “Developing health care delivery systems, when done logically and successfully, can be a self-replicating process in other countries.”
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