Over 500 women drawn from Jomorro and Ellembelle districts of the Western Region have benefitted from free breast cancer screening which was championed by the 2016 legacy edition winner of TV3 flagship program Ghana’s Most Beautiful, Yaba under her project which seeks to empower women on breast cancer.
The three-day program which was hailed by residents took place at the Tikobo No 1 market and Jawey Wharf in the Jomorro district, and Aiyinase market in the Ellembelle district amidst brass band music.
Women from all walks of lives turned out in their numbers to have their breast screened for free by medical experts from the Half Assini Government Hospital.
Even though the program was scheduled to start at 9am at Aiyinase, the first person arrived at the venue as early as 4am with over 40 people lined up in a queue prior to the commencement of the screening.
Challenges identified in the area, was the use of local concoction by residents rather than seeing a doctor.
One of the beneficiaries was a 42-year-old Mary Ackah with mastectomy at her right breast due to breast tumor she had a year ago.
Unfortunately, the cancer cells have also developed in her left breast causing her left hand to swell.
Her medical reports revealed, all her five lymph nodes have tumor deposits and was therefore suffering from an invasive ductal carcinoma grade 3.
Even though she was instructed to go for a chemotherapy and radiotherapy at Korle–Bu Teaching Hospital about four months ago, she is yet to do that due to financial constraints.
Mary Ackah who was in tears shared her plight with TV3, and appealed for some assistance from the general public.
Meanwhile, the beneficiaries have praised Yaba for her initiative.
A nursing officer at the Half Assini Government Hospital Jemima Brako Okyere was overwhelmed by the turn out and commended Yaba for her zeal and passion to champion a worthy cause – breast cancer -, which she said is a silent killer that has killed many but has been given less attention by many.
Yaba, known in private life as Omo Yaba Ekpoliaku Bomo later in an interview said she was happy seeing her vision come to fruition under her foundation known as the Ekpoliaku Foundation, and yielding expected results.
She advised the people to go for regular check up, expressing how she was emotionally touched by the story of Mary Ackah and pledged to do her best in saving her life.
She however appealed to benevolent organizations and individuals to come to her aid through sponsorship to help her expand the project.
By William Peters |TV3|3news.com