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Delta Airline spends $24m on breast cancer awareness

 Delta Airline says it has committed more than $24 million dollars towards breast cancer awareness, and funded 85 research projects on the disease over the past 17 years.

Similarly, it said it had partnered with Breast Care International (BCI), a non-governmental organisation, to screen 65,000 people for cancer, the Operational Service Manager of Delta Airline, Ms Sarah D. Annan, disclosed.  

Speaking at a free breast cancer awareness talk and free breast screening, to mark breast cancer awareness month, in Accra, on Thursday, Ms Annan said Delta was committed to supporting the ‘Kick out Cancer Campaign’, initiated by BCI.

As part of the day’s event, members of the Women in Aviation made up of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Airport Command, the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), Delta Airlines and the ladies from the various airlines working in the aviation industry at the airport, were screened.

They were educated on the disease, its early detection, prevention, treatment and self examination of breast.

“This renewed partnership will enable more women and men throughout the country to receive free screenings and I encourage you to spread the word to your friends and family.

“We pride ourselves on serving others in the communities that we live and work in, hence our commitment to contributing to Ghana’s development, Ms Annan stated.

She announced that “throughout this month, we have a special pink plane, which operates across different markets it flies to, its flight attendants and teams were wearing pink uniforms and actively fundraising by selling pink products on board.”

The Operational Service Manager of Delta commended the stewardship of Dr Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, Excutive Director of BCI, saying her leadership at the BCI has focused on the prevention, awareness and treatment of breast cancer. 

“Dr Wiafe-Addai and the BCI have saved the lives of hundreds of women as well as men across the country and taken the stigma out of a cancer diagnosis. This work must continue.”

 Dr Wiafe-Addai said there was the need for vulnerable breast cancer patients to be enrolled on the government’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP).

She said it was unacceptable for 2,000 women out of the 4,600 diagnosed adding that there was the need to support them to be able to access breast cancer treatment.

Among other speakers at the event were the treasurer of Women in Aviation, Cynthia Kukah, Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), Francisca Oteng Mensah, and Breast Cancer Ambassador Akosua Agyapong, who thrilled the audience with her songs.

BY NORMAN COOPER

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