Female Prison Officers at the Awutu Camp Prison have been screened for breast cancer.
The Meena Breast Cancer Foundation (MBCF) took the breast screening exercise to the doorstep of the officers to engage them about the dangers of the disease.
This was part of the Foundation’s campaign for early detection to save lives. MBCF aims at fighting breast cancer throughout the year.
Prior to the screening was an education on the risk factors of breast cancer.
The lead medical officer of the MBCF team, Dorothy Denkyi, a midwife with the Tema General Hospital, engaged the prison officers on lifestyles that could endanger their breasts.
Some of the lifestyles she indicated were unhealthy for the breast included excessive intake of red meat, taking a specific pill constantly, and the type of bras women put on.
“Eat more fish and reduce intake of red meat. You can roast the red meat before taking it. It is healthier. Some of you also have a particular brand of pills you take and that puts you at risk of contracting breast cancer.
“Every woman must have at least five bras so that you do not wear one for a long time. Do not wear black bras or bras that are smaller than your breast. Know your breast size,” Mrs. Denkyi added.
The midwife urged women to be conscious of the well-being of their breasts.
Meena Breast Cancer Foundation is visiting institutions, and communities to step up its campaign on early detection to help reduce deaths linked to the dreaded disease.
MBCF was established a year ago on the vision of Mrs. Amina Oppong Kwarteng who died of breast cancer.
She was the wife of the Executive Director of both Crime Check Foundation and Meena Breast Cancer Foundation.
MBCF offers support to breast cancer patients to get medical care.