IMaH Launches 2026 Pink October Breast Cancer Campaign in Tema
The International Maritime Hospital initiates free breast cancer screening and community outreach across October 2026.
The International Maritime Hospital (IMaH) has kick‑started its 2026 Pink October breast cancer campaign in Tema, urging intensified screening and early medical intervention to curb fatalities from the disease.
Chief Executive Officer Dr Vitus Victor Anaab‑Bisi announced the programme under the theme “Early Action, Better Outcomes,” citing Ghana’s 2024 estimate of 5,487 new breast cancer cases and 2,695 deaths as a pressing public‑health issue.
He warned that delayed detection often complicates treatment and deteriorates outcomes, calling on individuals, families and communities to treat breast cancer with urgency.
IMaH will offer free screening throughout October and extend education and outreach to neighbourhoods and corporate bodies, while providing substantial discounts on mammograms and ultrasound scans for further assessments.
Dr Anaab‑Bisi also appealed to men to monitor their breast health and encourage women in their circles to get screened, stressing that men too can develop the disease.
Oncology and Radiation Therapy specialist Dr Juanita Brehua‑Nkansah, a member of the Breast Society of Ghana, highlighted that breast cancer may present without obvious symptoms, urging women to seek medical attention for any new lump, size or skin change, abnormal nipple discharge or retraction.
She cautioned against waiting for pain before seeking care, noting that lumps are often painless, and recommended women aged 40 and above undergo mammography every one to three years.
Dr Mercy Obrenpong Owusu, Director of Health Services for Tema West, chaired the launch and urged women to know their bodies, seek prompt medical attention for unusual changes, and called on men, employers and community leaders to support screening and treatment efforts.
Survivor Bridget Emefa Van‑Johnson recounted discovering a lump in her armpit in February of the previous year, undergoing investigations, a biopsy, six chemotherapy sessions and surgery, and credited her family and medical team for her recovery.
She urged women to remain vigilant about bodily changes and seek professional advice without delay.
