Ghana has recorded over twenty-seven thousand new cases of cancer over the last two years.
Inadequate funding for cancer treatment coupled with late detection have caused the death of over seventeen thousand people over the same period.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Council has instituted the GNAT Cancer Foundation to lend support to members living with the condition.
According to the Global Cancer Observatory (Globocan) Ghana has 63,764 cancer prevalent cases over the last five years.
Over 17, 944 persons have died from the disease due to the late detection of the condition and the inability of cancer patients to fund the bills for their treatment.
The Cancer Foundation by GNAT is intended to create awareness and solicit for financial support to treat teachers in the country who are living with the condition.
A Deputy General Secretary of GNAT, Amadu Moses Baman, is hopeful that the institution of the cancer foundation will contribute to improve the health of the teacher population.
He said, “we are not only interested in the teacher but their spouses and children under the age of 18 years are also covered by the GNAT cancer scheme.”
He further explained that “a healthy teacher population is the Association’s priority, hence the need to put together the cancer scheme.”
Chairman of the GNAT cancer Foundation, Thomas Armstrong Asante said GH¢17.2million will be needed annually by the Association to meet the treatment needs of their members.
“If you are Ghanaian and you think a teacher has helped you to read and write, it is worthy to contribute GH¢5 to towards their cancer treatment”, he said.
Through the acquisition of the Sweden Ghana Medical Center (SGMC) by GNAT, member teachers with cancer are already offered support.
But the Chief Executive Officer of the SGMC, Dr. Clement Edusa advocated for lifestyle change to reduce risks associated with contracting cancer.
He expressed concern about the consumption of water polluted by heavy metals, chemically produced foods and negative behavioural lifestyle.
By Stanley Nii Blewu
