Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Over 30,000 people join 2026 BCI Walk for the Cure at Mampong
More than 30,000 people participated in the 2026 BCI Walk for the Cure, Ghana’s biggest breast cancer awareness campaigns, held on Saturday, October 10, at Mampong in the Ashanti Region.
The annual event, organised by Breast Care International (BCI) and Peace and Love Hospitals, was held under the theme, “Our Walk, Our Fight, Our Future,” to promote awareness of breast cancer and encourage early detection and treatment.
The walk attracted a diverse group of participants, including health professionals, students, members of the clergy, women’s groups, traders, traditional leaders, security personnel, government officials and representatives of foreign institutions in Ghana.
Members of the Peace and Love Survival Association (PALSA), a group of breast cancer survivors, also joined the campaign to demonstrate solidarity with people affected by the disease.
The Paramount Chief of the Mampong Traditional Area, Dasebre Osei Bonsu III, and the Queen Mother, Nana Agyakoma Difie II graced the event.
Participants marched through the principal streets of Mampong, carrying placards with messages such as “Early Detection Saves Lives,” “Breast Cancer Is Curable” and “Breast Cancer Is Not a Death Sentence,” as they called for greater public awareness and support for people living with the disease.
Founder and President of Breast Care International and Chief Executive Officer of Peace and Love Hospitals, Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai, in her speech acknowledged the progress made by the organisation in taking breast cancer education to rural communities but said more work was needed to reach vulnerable populations.
She expressed concern about persistent cases of late-stage breast cancer diagnoses, describing the situation as worrying because of the lives being lost to a disease that can be treated successfully when detected early.
Dr Wiafe Addai called on stakeholders, including government institutions, traditional authorities, health professionals and civil society organisations, to strengthen efforts to educate the public and improve access to screening services, particularly in rural communities.
Dr Wiafe Addai urged women to make regular breast examinations and screening a priority, recommending visits to health facilities at least every six months.
She stressed that women should not allow fear, embarrassment or stigma to prevent them from seeking medical attention when they notice unusual changes in their breasts.
“The disease is treatable, curable and preventable,” she emphasised, encouraging women to report unusual symptoms promptly so that appropriate medical care could be provided.
The 2026 edition was also sponsored by Delta Air Lines as the airline marked the 10th anniversary of its partnership with Breast Care International.
The collaboration has supported efforts to expand breast cancer education and screening while encouraging individuals and communities to seek medical attention without delay.
Delta Air Lines Operations Service Manager, Sarah Annan, expressed delight at the large turnout and reaffirmed the importance of partnerships in addressing the disease.
“It is an honour to be part of this year’s BCI Walk for the Cure, and to see so many people come together in support of this important cause,” she stated.
She added: “Seeing thousands of Ghanaians, alongside survivors, healthcare professionals, partners and community leaders, come together with such energy is a powerful reminder that this is a cause that belongs to all of us.”
She noted that the partnership with BCI had helped expand access to breast cancer education and screening, raise awareness and address barriers that often delay early action.
The massive turnout in Mampong underscored the growing public participation in breast cancer advocacy and the importance of collective action in saving lives.
Organisers and participants used the occasion to remind the public that early detection, timely medical attention and sustained community education remain essential in the fight against breast cancer.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah
