In line with its commitment to addressing crucial health issues affecting women, New Voices has organized a talk on breast cancer, in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The event took place at the Christ the King Parish on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 6:00pm.
New Voices is a special initiative of Lions Clubs International that seeks to promote gender parity and diversity. It aims to promote women’s interests, amplify their voices, and develop their leadership skills through mentorship and engagement in community service.
Present at the event were the Senior Gender Officer of UN Women, Mrs. Afua Ansre; the District Governor of District 418, Ghana, Lion Kate Baaba Hudson; the New Voices Chairperson, Lion Dr. Sandra Kesse-Amankwa; as well as many female guests from some institutions in Ghana.
In her welcome address, Lion Dr. Sandra Kesse-Amankwa intimated that the program sought to educate women on measures to adopt to prevent the occurrence of breast cancer, help women make informed decisions about treatment when they have to live with cancer, and also to provide support to people living with cancer.
The highlight of the program was a talk by Mrs. Susan Tsotsoo Malik of the Maud Lokko Breast Cancer Foundation, who is a breast cancer survivor and has helped many women through their cancer journey.
Mrs. Malik shared her experience of cancer with the audience and explained what breast cancer is, and the risk factors associated with it. She advised the participants to adopt healthy lifestyles, which is paramount for the prevention of cancer.
She also mentioned that breast cancer has no cure, however, early detection can improve one’s survival rate. “The earlier it is detected, the better the chances there are of successful treatment,” she said.
She ended her presentation with emphasis on the need to have a positive attitude towards life when one has to live with cancer and also the need for a strong support system from healthcare providers, family, and friends to fight cancer.