Climax TV
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, says Ghana must build the capacity to treat cancer patients at home instead of allowing a cancer diagnosis to become a reason for families to seek specialised care abroad.
He said the country could no longer accept a situation where patients and their families, already burdened by the cost and emotional toll of cancer, are forced to travel thousands of miles because certain specialised services are unavailable locally.
“We must build the capacity to care for our people at home,” Otumfuo said in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Nsuta Paramount Chief, Nana Asamoah Gyamfi ll at a fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
The call forms part of the vision behind the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Comprehensive Cancer Center of Excellence (OOTII CCCoE), a US$100 million cancer-care project being developed on a 52-acre site at Kwaso in the Ashanti Region. The project is expected to be implemented in phases, with the first phase focusing on clinical and radiotherapy services, advanced diagnostics, research, training and community outreach.
Beyond the physical infrastructure, the Asantehene said the centre should help change the way Ghana approaches cancer by bringing together prevention, early detection, treatment, research and innovation. He said Ghanaian doctors, nurses, scientists and other health professionals must have access to advanced training and international expertise, while research and clinical trials should increasingly be conducted in the country.
Peacefmonline Sampson Kwame Nyamekye said Otumfuo revealed that the initiative was born from the experience of Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, whose years of work in cancer advocacy, screening and patient care exposed the gaps confronting patients and their families. He commended Dr Wiafe Addai, Founder of Breast Care International and CEO of Peace and Love Hospitals, for developing the vision and pursuing it to its current stage.
He, however, stressed that the project cannot be carried by one individual or institution. Otumfuo called for partnerships involving governments, hospitals, universities, research institutions, technology companies, philanthropic organisations and international cancer institutions. He said support could go beyond money to include equipment, technology, specialist training, research collaboration and knowledge transfer.
For the Asantehene, the ultimate measure of the project will not be the buildings constructed or equipment installed, but the lives that can be saved when patients have timely access to quality care. He therefore urged Ghanaians in the diaspora and international partners to invest in the centre and help create a future where a cancer diagnosis is met with access to treatment and hope, rather than the immediate prospect of travelling abroad.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Breast Care International and Peace and Love Hospitals, Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai hinted that Ghana recorded 27,385 new cancer cases and 17,944 cancer-related deaths in 2022, highlighting the growing burden of the disease and the urgent need to expand access to comprehensive cancer care in the country.
Touching on the centre, she said the centre is expected to provide a platform where specialists including surgeons, oncologists, radiologists and nurses can work together, while also supporting cancer research and the training of health professionals.
The vision has received the blessing of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, with organisers describing the project as a legacy initiative aimed at transforming cancer care in Ghana and the wider African region.
Later, Mamponghemaa Nana Agyakoma Difie II also addressed the gathering, highlighting the challenges and emotional burden faced by families of cancer patients. She called on traditional authorities to intensify advocacy and mobilise stakeholders to support the realisation of the cancer centre.
GALLERY
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
Fundraising gala in Maryland, USA.
