The Ghana Chapter of Women in Aviation International in partnership with Delta Airlines and Breast Care International (BCI) has held a breast cancer awareness campaign and screening as part of activities to commemorate its 2021 Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This is to create awareness and to sensitize members on the impact of the disease and the dangers associated with the failure to undergo breast screening.

The even brought together both men and women from Civil Aviation, Ghana Airport Company, Immigration Service and Customs.

Speaking at the event, President of BCI, Dr. Beatrice Wiafe-Addai being diagnosed with breast cancer was not a death sentence.

According to her, there is ample evidence that when breast cancer is diagnosed early and treated effectively there are very good outcomes

Dr. Wiafe-Addai who also a breast surgeon encouraged women to undergo self-breast examination and breast cancer screening for early detection and treatment.  

She appealed to women to adopt healthy lifestyles such as regular exercise, avoiding obesity, alcohol and smoking which are known to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Dr Wiafe-Addai further called for strengthening of partnership to sustain the level of awareness and urged stakeholders to channel the advocacy towards addressing the knowledge gap, and demystifying breast cancer.

President of Women in Aviation, Juliet Okae said their motivation is to enlighten women about early detection, treatment, impact and ways to prevent breast cancer.

“There are so many women at the airport and when you interact with them, most of them don’t understand what breast cancer is, some are even afraid to even come for the screening so we decided to bring an expert in to create awareness” she stated.

Madam Juliet Okae expressed worry about the alarming increase in breast cancer cases in Ghana.

Due to the importance of breast cancer education, Madam Okae said they will also extend the education to schools through their Girls in Aviation programme to also educate them on breast cancer.

October is globally marked as a month to raise awareness to reduce the stigma of breast cancer through education on symptoms and treatment.

Hundreds of women at the airport benefited from the screening exercise. They had the opportunity to ask questions concerning the disease.