T.I Ahmadiyya Senior High School has emerged winners of the first ever Breast Cancer Quiz competition with 107 points, beating closest contender KNUST SHS, who had 96 points.
Kumasi Girls SHS placed third with 90 points.
As a result, T.I Ahmadiyya SHS gets GH¢ 500, a set of computer and books while first runner-up KNUST SHS had GH¢300, a PA system and books. Third-placed Kumasi Girls SHS got GH¢200,a 34-inch flat screen TV and books.
Three contestants from 12 schools participated in the quiz with two teachers and 25 supporters.
The event, which took place at the Kumasi Anglican Senior High School, drew a packed audience as the three schools slugged it out at the finals of the first breast cancer quiz.
The breast cancer quiz was organized by Breast Care International and Peace & Love Hospital in collaboration with Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council and the Ashanti Regional Education Directorate to usher in Ghana’s 61st independence anniversary celebrations in Kumasi.
The Ashanti Region Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, noted that globally about 55 million people die annually and out of that number, 7 million are cancer-related deaths, which means cancer alone constitutes over 12.5 percent annual death globally.
“More serious, cancer kill more than HIV AIDS, Malaria in the world and educating people on cancer issues means you are reducing global deaths related to cancer.”
He said it is therefore relevant as a nation to tackle the issue of cancer in terms of exhibition, prevention, treatment and creative access.
The Minister urged that the quiz is organised annually to mark the celebration of Ghana’s Independence Day in the Region.
Chief Executive Officer of Peace and Love Hospital Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, who is also President of Breast Care International, stressed that the quiz will help sharpen the academic performance among the participating schools while inculcating breast cancer messages in them.
She continued, “As a nation, we haven’t put cancer on the level it should be, so this is one event that will bring cancer to the fore and also show the world cancer body that we are taking the matter serious.”
“This event we realised how the students had researched, how they have learn about breast cancer and some other cancers and we hope that this children, when they learn they will grow up with the knowledge and help us to educate their mother’s so that the future for cancer will be brighter,” she added.
A third year Science student of T.I Ahmadiyya Senior High School, Amina Muhammad, 18, was awarded an educational scholarship for showing outstanding performance among the contestants.
By Antwi Boasiako|Akoma FM|3news.com|Ghana