The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has urged workers to make regular breast cancer screening a priority, stressing that early detection remains key to saving lives.
The call was made at a breast cancer awareness and screening programme organised by the TUC at its headquarters in Accra on Wednesday under the theme: “Early Detection Saves Lives: Know the Signs, Get Screened.”
Speaking at the event, Mr Joshua Ansah, Secretary-General of the TUC, said that although breast cancer predominantly affects women, men should also take advantage of screening services.
He noted that many women juggled demanding jobs with responsibilities for children, parents and extended families, often leaving little time to attend to their own health needs.
“Brothers and sisters, sometimes, later can be too late. So, to our sisters here, please make time for yourself; your health matters,” he said.
Mr Ansah urged workers to undertake regular medical check-ups to help prevent the late detection of breast cancer and other diseases.
Madam Harriet Botchway, Head of the Gender and Child Protection Department of the TUC, said the initiative demonstrated the Union’s commitment to protecting the health and wellbeing of workers.
“Breast cancer claims many lives; that is why the Union continues to adopt strategies that protect the health and well-being of its members.
”If we say the union is the safe place for all workers, then we cannot sit down and look on whilst breast cancer takes the life of many workers,” she stated.
Madam Botchway said the Union, through its Gender Department, had consistently marked the awareness month for nearly a decade through public education forums, screening exercises and health talks.
She commended the TUC leadership for providing resources to sustain the initiative, describing it as evidence of its commitment to promoting workers’ health, safety and wellbeing.
Madam Botchway said the objective was to build healthier workplaces, communities and a healthier nation through increased early detection, stressing that timely diagnosis and treatment would help ensure that workers did not suffer needlessly from breast cancer.
She encouraged workers to pay attention to advice provided by health professionals, adopt preventive health measures and make regular screening a priority.
Madam Martha Efua Ali, a midwife at the Adabraka Polyclinic, educated participants on the common types of cancer, signs and symptoms, risk factors and stages of breast cancer, as well as available management options.
She advised participants to be familiar with their breasts, monitor any changes and seek prompt medical attention whenever abnormalities were detected.
Madam Ali also dispelled the misconception that a painless lump in the breast was harmless, explaining that cancerous lumps could be painless.