Category: Ghana Health News

It’s better to live with one breast than to die with both – Survivor advises

In a message of encouragement at the Sixth Annual Conference of the Breast Society of Ghana, breast cancer survivor Fafa Gozo has shared a sobering thought, stating, “It is better to be alive with one breast than to die with both.”

Her remarks came as she recounted her painful journey with treatment and urged women not to let fear of surgery or chemotherapy deter them from seeking life-saving care.

Mrs Gozo explained that many women refuse treatment due to fear, particularly of losing a breast or enduring the intense pain associated with chemotherapy.

“Chemotherapy is very hard on the body, and once a person reads about it, it creates fear of going through the pain,” she told Joy Prime. “Without the chemotherapy, I don’t think you will survive this. There is no way you can survive treatment without chemotherapy, and it’s better to be alive with one breast than to die with both.”

She also addressed the fear of surgery, emphasising that it is a small price to pay for survival.

“Some get scared because they don’t want to go through the surgery and the thought of taking a lump out of their breast,” she noted. “But it is better to be alive with one breast than to die and be buried with two breasts,” she stressed.

Mrs. Gozo underscored the criticality of adhering strictly to medical advice and embracing treatment as the most viable path to survival. She concluded her remarks with a powerful call for women to prioritise their well-being, which is often neglected while caring for others.

“Women need to be very intentional about themselves. Make time for rest, make time for wellness, do what makes you happy, make time for fun activities, and make sure you are your priority,” she urged.

Breast cancer patients to benefit from MahamaCares

The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has assured Ghanaians that the newly established Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as the MahamaCares Bill, will provide critical financial support for patients battling breast cancer and other non-communicable diseases.

She stated the bill has just been passed in Parliament, and steps were being taken to ensure it functions efficiently once rolled out.

Speaking at the 2025 Breast Society of Ghana Stakeholders Forum, the deputy minister explained that although the fund is still in its setup phase, strong systems are being put in place to ensure transparency, fraud prevention, and equitable access.

“It’s a fund and we will have to disburse it. The bill has been passed; the President has assented to it, and we are in the process of setting up the system. Once we set up a good system like any health fund, I believe that funds will be disbursed to the right people,” she stated.

The fund, which targets conditions like cancer, hypertension, and diabetes, will be used to fill in the gaps left by health insurance, especially when it no longer covers treatments such as chemotherapy.

She emphasised that the goal is to prevent situations where breast cancer patients are forced to beg for support publicly.

“Once people reach a certain stage, they simply can’t afford treatment. Some even sell their homes. President Mahama said we must not allow that to continue in Ghana. No woman should have to sell her home to survive breast cancer. This fund is here to make sure they don’t.”

The government also plans to decentralise healthcare, making breast cancer diagnosis and treatment more accessible across the country, not just in major cities.

The deputy minister called on health professionals, civil society, and the public to support the initiative to ensure its success and sustainability.

Ashanti Region records over 200 maternal deaths per 100,000 births in 1st half of 2025

The Ashanti Region has recorded the highest number of maternal mortality figures in three years.

In the first half of 2025, the region recorded 232 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to 158 recorded in the same period last year.

This means the region saw its maternal figures appreciating with 74 deaths.

This was against a national target of 125 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Fred Adomako-Boateng, who revealed this at the ongoing half-year review meeting, also announced a marginal increase in deliveries attended by health workers from 52.3 percent in 2024 to 53.7 percent in the same period in 2025.

Dr. Adomako-Boateng blames the situation on uncoordinated referrals and a lack of capacity at the peripheral level.

According to him, a new model is being developed as specialists and consultants are deployed to support healthcare provision at the primary care and district levels.

“If you look at the statistics, the 2023 half-year, we had 144 mothers dying from 100,000 live births. If you look at 2024, we had 150 maternal deaths from 100,000 live births and the year under review is 232 per 100,000 live births. For us, I am happy we have our friends from Komfo Anokye. We have sat down and we have analyze the data thoroughly. And we have even come with the causes of these.” He said.

“If you look at the data right now, you see that if you take Komfo Anokye out of it, you see public facilities, private facilities, and CHAG facilities would be recording 64 maternal deaths per 100,000 livebirths.

When you look at the death at Komfo Anokye, you realised that most of them were referred. The question is if we can really build capacity in the peripheral areas, where we can manage them so that they don’t refer to Komfo Anokye. It means that all these deaths are going to be curtailed.” Dr. Adomako-Boateng added.

This year’s review meeting is under the theme, “Strengthening primary healthcare through networks of practice towards universal health coverage; the role of stakeholders.

Indonesia pivots Ghana’s vaccine self-sufficiency bid

The Indonesian government has promised to provide technical and logistics to support Ghana achieve its vaccine self-sufficiency bid.

This partnership would see Ghana develop a robust vaccine production hub on the African continent, thereby improving the continent’s healthcare capacity, leveraging Indonesia’s global track record in vaccine manufacturing.

The Honorary Consul of Indonesia to Ghana, H.E. Paskal A.B. Rois, made this known when he paid a working visit to the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) in Accra.

He had discussions with the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, and his Deputy Dr. Faisal Nuhu, stemming from deepening Ghana–Indonesia relations in the health sector, particularly in vaccine research, development, and local production.

Mr. Rois underscored Indonesia’s expertise through Bio Farma, a state-owned pharmaceutical giant, which produces more than 2.3 billion doses of vaccines annually and supplies to over 150 countries under World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF certifications.

He explained that the collaboration would not only help reduce Africa’s heavy reliance on vaccines from the Western world but also position Ghana as a vaccine manufacturing leader in the sub-region.

He made known an initiative to help build human capacity in the technicalities of producing vaccines coupled with Indonesian government-sponsored scholarships that continue to benefit Ghanaians.

He disclosed ongoing discussions with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health to facilitate the supply of Monkeypox test kits to Ghana, to aid in the fight against the infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus.

He proposed “a stronger institutional cooperation between Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control to ensure regulatory harmonization in vaccine development and clinical trials.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute, Dr. Sodzi-Tettey welcomed the initiative and assured of his outfit’s readiness to collaborate towards making Ghana a center for vaccine production, as international donors prepare to phase out.

He emphasized that the government’s support and regulatory oversight by the FDA would be crucial to the success of such an ambitious project.

He indicated that the Institute had already engaged with the Atlantic Life Sciences, and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research as important building blocks for Ghana’s vaccine self-sufficiency agenda.

Dr. Sodzi-Tettey recommended a collaboration between Ghana’s Ministry of Health and Indonesia’s towards formalizing training opportunities to enhance human resource development.

“This would create a structured framework for Ghanaian health professionals to access specialized training programs in Indonesia with clear guidelines on participation and knowledge transfer”, he said.

Nursing and Midwifery Licensing Exams postponed to Sept 4

The Health Ministry has announced a postponement of the Centralised Nursing and Midwifery Licensing Examinations to September 4, 2025.

The decision was taken after a consultative meeting involving the Minister for Health, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and the Conference of Heads of Health Training Institutions (COHHETI).

It was agreed that, going forward, candidates will sit for the exams in their respective training institutions, restoring the previous practice.

According to the Ministry, the move is aimed at reducing risks associated with long-distance travel and ensuring effective supervision by the NMC.

The Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, stressed that it is not proper for students to travel from one region to another to write exams, describing the new directive as a measure to safeguard the safety and well-being of candidates.

He further assured that the Ministry will provide the necessary logistics to guarantee smooth implementation.

The NMC is expected to release a revised timetable and detailed guidelines in due course.

The Ministry expressed appreciation to all candidates, training institutions, and stakeholders for their cooperation and understanding.