The Cancer Support Network of Ghana (CSNGH) on Tuesday gifted the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra an amount of GH¢ 24, 400 to support the treatment of eight breast cancer patients.
The beneficiaries are Rose Tagoe, Azara Amadu, Patricia Pagzu, Fidelia Agbeve, Mary Aidoo, Stella Asiedu, Margaret Owureko and Vida Defor.
The move formed parts of efforts by the CSNGH, a non-governmental organistion (NGO) to provide financial relief to breast cancer patients in the country, while encouraging them to ensure they did not default in the treatment of the disease.
Founder of CSNGH, Dr Juliet Appiah-Quansah, a Medical Oncologist practicing in the United States of America (USA), said she found it necessary to give back to Ghanaians who were battling cancer after realising many do not survive because of financial constraints.
She indicated that if someone begins the treatment for cancer and financially defaults, it increases that person’s risk of dying of the disease.
Dr Appiah-Quansah, therefore called on individuals and institutions to join the fight against all forms of cancers by endeavouring to occasionally visit cancer treatment centres in the country to offer financial support to needy patients.
“Cancer treatment is very expensive and due to that many people begin treatment and stop at some point.
Others too either do not follow the correct routine for treatment or completely abandon treatment and resort to cheaper unapproved methods of treatment and end up losing their lives, so in all our activities let us not forget the cancer fighters,” she added.
Dr Appiah-Quansah expressed gratitude to donors and supporters of CSNGH for their contribution towards the gesture.
The Medical Oncologist also appealed for more support to be able to extend financial support to more people in dire need of it.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, a nursing officer at the Breast Cancer and Oncology Unit of the KBTH, Julitta McCarthy thanked the NGO for the donations, saying it would go a long way to cushion the beneficiaries.
The beneficiaries and some cancer patients on admission at the hospital were provided free breakfast by officials of the CSNGH after the donation exercise.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU
