The fear of being diagnosed of Covid-19 is preventing some women from going to health facilities for breast cancer treatment.

That is according to the Chairperson for Ghana Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance.

Dr Beatrice Wiafe-Addai expressed worry over the alarming cases of advanced stages of breast cancer reported.

She said it is time government intervene in a form of funding to avert the situation.

"Because of the COVID era, most women were scared to go to the hospital for the fear of being diagnosed with the virus and activities were halted which has led to the reporting of advanced stages of breast cancer," Dr Wiafe-Addai said.

She added that, "it’s time the government intervene in the form of funding to avert this serious situation."

Dr. Wiafe-Addai, spoke to journalists during a breast cancer screening for Women’s Ministry of Brofeyedu Church of Pentecost, in the Atwima Kwanwoma district of the Ashanti Region.

The screening is the first community engagement by Breast Care International (BCI) after easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

Dr. Wiafe-Addai raises concerns about the government’s failure to pay much attention to persons with non-communicable diseases as it is done for Covid-19 patients.

“If the cost of treatments for the coronavirus patients were born by the government, why can’t the same be done in the treatment of NCDs? She questions.

Dr Wiafe-Addai says if the "tests, diagnostic procedures are covered freely, why should the government has to discriminate?”

She said Covid-19 has not come to stop cancers and therefore there is the need for government to intervene to reduce the number of cases.

"COVID-19 did not come to stop cancers, it did not come trade places with the NCDs so we cannot also stop creating awareness about the NCDs especially the breast cancer which is killing the women."

Meanwhile, Dr Wiafe-Addai cautions the public to be extra vigilant and continue to observe all health protocols to avoid being infected with COVID-19.

"Let's continue to practice the social distancing, washing, sanitizing hands and wearing of the nose masks to halt the spread of the virus,” she advises.