Saturday, July 10, 2021.
Cervical Cancer Prevention and Training Centre (CCPTC),
Catholic Hospital, Battor.
Fourteen health workers (5 from the Jasikan District in the Oti Region) completed Module 1 of our training programme on Friday, July 9, 2021. Apart from screening for cervical precancer, they were also taught clinical breast examination to screen for breast cancer. The aim is to have community-based cervical and breast cancer screening services across the country.
Funding for this group was varied. Two from the Eastern Region were sponsored by a philanthropist who would like to remain anonymous. On learning about our programme, this philanthropist donated $20,000 to train health workers in the Upper East Region and the Eastern Region to set up cervical cancer prevention units.
Seven of the health workers were fee-paying trainees. The 5 health workers from Jasikan District were sponsored by the Tema Lions Club.
The Jasikan District Director of Health Services, Mr. Isaac Annobil, is working hard to make the Jasikan District a role model of cervical and breast cancer prevention in Ghana. He aims to employ the ‘hub and spokes model’ being used in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region of Ghana where the Cervical Cancer Prevention and Training Centre in Battor is situated.
Before graduating, the trainees went on an outreach at Dedukope CHPS compound in the North Tongu District on Wednesday, July 7, 2021. Fifty-two (52) women were screened for cervical precancer with Visual Inspection with Acetic acid (VIA). One was positive. 56 women were screened for breast cancer with clinical breast examination. Two women had abnormal nipple discharge and have been referred to the Surgical Department in Catholic Hospital, Battor.
Screening was at no cost to the women as the cost of screening on outreaches in the communities during the training programme has been incorporated into the cost of training.
On Thursday, July 8, 2021, the trainees presented on how they will set up cervical precancer and breast cancer screening programmes in their respective institutions when they go back.
The graduates are:
- Mrs Felicia Maame Efua Eduah, Public Health Nurse, Gadol Women Empowerment Ministry.
- Ms. Christabel Sarfo Agyemang, Midwife, HopeXchange Medical Centre, Kwadaso Municipality, Kumasi, Ashanti Region.
- Ms. Constance Oppong, Midwife, HopeXchange Medical Centre, Kwadaso Municipality, Kumasi, Ashanti Region.
- Ms. Gertrude Opoku Duah, Midwife, Holy Family Hospital, Nkawkaw, Kwahu West District.
- Ms. Joana Esi Gaisie, Public Health Nurse, Holy Family Hospital, Nkawkaw, Kwahu West District.
- Ms. Felicia Ofosu-Dankyi, Public Health Nurse, Cocoa Clinic, Okai-Koi South District, Accra.
- Ms. Priscilla Annan, Midwife, Pentecost Hospital, La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal District, Greater Accra Region.
- Ms. Grace Selasie Fiador, General Nurse, Trust Hospital, Osu, Korle Clottey District, Greater Accra Region.
- Ms. Elizabeth Amanyo, Midwife, Atobiata CHPS, Jasikan District, Oti Region.
- Ms. Irene Hodogbe, Community Health Nurse, Ayoma Health Centre, Jasikan District, Oti Region.
- Ms. Rita Amoafo, Midwife, Nsuta Health Centre, Jasikan District, Oti Region.
- Ms. Mary Akos Logodzo, Midwife, Bodada Health Centre, Jasikan District, Oti Region.
- Ms. Rebecca Enyonam Adusu, Midwife, Jasikan District Hospital, Oti Region.
- Ms. Abigail Ababio, Public Health Nurse, Bosomtwe District Health Directorate, Ashanti Region
Fourteen new trainees arrive on Monday, July 12, 2021 for the Module 1 programme which is over 2 weeks.