Ghana Gas donates GH¢100,000 to fund Breast Cancer diagnosis, biopsies, protective equipment

The Ghana National Gas Limited Company (Ghana Gas) has donated GH¢100,000 to the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in the Western Region to support breast cancer diagnosis and protect healthcare workers involved in cancer treatment. The donation will fund biopsy procedures for patients suspected of having breast cancer, while part of the amount will be used to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers handling cancer treatment. The intervention comes as breast cancer awareness activities gather momentum in October, drawing attention to the financial barriers that prevent some patients from accessing timely diagnosis and treatment.

Focus on prevention and early diagnosis
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Gas, Judith Adjoba Blay, said the donation formed part of the company’s annual commitment to breast cancer awareness and care. She said the company’s interventions were aimed at promoting prevention and early diagnosis to reduce the number of patients who develop advanced stages of the disease.

“The emphasis here is on prevention because if we are able to prevent or even diagnose early, then we won’t get to the worst-case scenario where we are dealing with very sick and dying people. That’s what we want to prevent,” she said.

Ms. Blay emphasised the importance of early detection in improving patient outcomes and preventing cases from progressing to severe stages before treatment begins.

Donation to ease cost of diagnosis
Receiving the donation, Head of Surgery at the hospital, Dr Joseph Amoabeng, said the support would help address the financial challenges that prevent some patients from accessing essential diagnostic services. He explained that some patients abandon the diagnostic process because they cannot afford the cost of a biopsy and the histopathological examination needed to confirm a suspected cancer diagnosis.

“Most of the time, people even abandon the diagnostic process because they don’t have the money for a biopsy and histopathology. Your donation will help more people access these services and then enrol them onto Mahama Cares for treatment,” he said.

Dr. Amoabeng acknowledged the support provided by the Ghana Medical Trust Fund for breast cancer patients but described the Ghana Gas donation as particularly important because it targeted the initial stage of diagnosis. He said making biopsies and histopathological examinations more accessible would help patients establish their diagnosis and pursue appropriate treatment.

PPE to protect healthcare workers
Dr. Amoabeng also expressed appreciation for the portion of the donation earmarked for protective equipment for healthcare workers involved in cancer treatment. He noted that nurses and other health professionals who handle chemotherapy medications faced occupational risks because of the toxic nature of the drugs. He said adequate personal protective equipment was therefore essential to safeguard healthcare workers and enable them to administer treatment safely.

“With the equipment you are going to provide for our units, our nurses will be better protected when handling chemotherapy medications. These drugs are toxic, so we need PPEs to protect healthcare workers and help them feel safe when administering treatment,” he added.

The donation is expected to strengthen the hospital’s efforts to improve access to breast cancer diagnostic services while enhancing the safety of healthcare professionals involved in patient care.