More than 30,000 participants gathered in Mampong, Ghana’s Ashanti Region, on October 10 for the 2026 BCI Walk for the Cure, bringing breast cancer awareness messages to the town’s streets. During the event, Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, Founder and President of Breast Care International (BCI), called for intensified education and screening programmes in rural communities to help reduce late-stage diagnoses and prevent avoidable deaths, she said:
“The disease is treatable, curable and preventable.”
Organised by Breast Care International in collaboration with Peace and Love Hospitals, the annual walk took place under the theme “Our Walk, Our Fight, Our Future.” It brought together healthcare professionals, survivors, community leaders and members of the public to promote early detection, timely treatment and breast cancer education.
Our Walk, Our Fight, Our Future
The walk drew participants from across the community, including students, members of the clergy, women’s groups, traders, security personnel and government officials, alongside health professionals and representatives of foreign institutions in Ghana.
The Paramount Chief of the Mampong Traditional Area, Dasebre Osei Bonsu III, and the Queen Mother, Nana Agyakoma Difie II, also attended.
Breast Care International, Ghana/Facebook
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.” These messages brought the event’s emphasis on awareness and timely care into public spaces throughout the town. Members of the Peace and Love Survival Association (PALSA) participated in the walk to encourage others affected by breast cancer.
Their involvement placed survivors alongside healthcare professionals, community leaders and other participants. The event provided a platform both to celebrate survivors and to reinforce public messages about seeking medical attention and accessing treatment promptly.
Delta Air Lines, a sponsor of the 2026 walk, marked the 10th anniversary of its partnership with Breast Care International. Sarah Annan, Operations Service Manager at Delta Air Lines, welcomed the turnout, describing it as a demonstration of collective commitment to the cause.
“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.”
Annan said the partnership had helped expand access to breast cancer education and screening, raise public awareness and address barriers that often prevent women from taking early action.
Bringing Breast Cancer Awareness Closer to Rural Communities
Dr. Wiafe Addai acknowledged the progress made in extending breast cancer education to rural communities. However, she stressed that further efforts were needed to reach vulnerable populations, particularly women who continue to face barriers to screening and healthcare services.
She expressed concern about breast cancer still being diagnosed at advanced stages, warning that delays in seeking medical attention could reduce the chances of successful treatment and contribute to preventable deaths.
Her appeal called on government institutions, traditional authorities, health professionals and civil society organisations to strengthen public education and expand access to screening, particularly in underserved communities.
Breast Care International, Ghana/Facebook
Addressing Fear, Embarrassment and Stigma
Alongside the call for greater access to services, Dr. Wiafe Addai addressed the personal barriers that may prevent women from seeking care. She cautioned against allowing fear, embarrassment or stigma to delay medical attention when unusual breast changes appear.
She encouraged women to report unusual symptoms promptly to healthcare professionals for assessment and appropriate treatment. During her remarks, she also urged women to prioritise regular breast examinations and attend health facilities for screening at least every six months.
Her message focused on encouraging women to seek medical attention early rather than allowing concerns or social pressures to postpone assessment.
Why October Matters for Breast Cancer Awareness
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, bringing communities, healthcare professionals and advocates together to improve public understanding of the disease. It provides an opportunity to explain breast cancer symptoms, encourage timely medical assessment and discuss appropriate screening. The value of awareness lies in helping people recognise unusual breast changes and understand when to seek professional advice.
The month also draws attention to barriers that may delay care, including stigma, fear and unequal access to healthcare services. Public education can encourage more open conversations about breast health, while community campaigns offer opportunities to share information with people who may otherwise have limited access to it. Breast self-awareness remains part of that education, alongside guidance from qualified healthcare professionals about screening appropriate to each person’s age and risk.
Awareness is one part of a broader pathway to care. Recognising a concerning change needs to be followed by timely assessment, accurate diagnosis and access to appropriate treatment. It is important to support patients through treatment, survivorship and metastatic disease, while addressing differences in access linked to geography and income.
October’s activities also provide space to recognise survivors and support patients and families. Walks, educational events and advocacy initiatives can bring these experiences into public discussion while drawing attention to the need for healthcare access, research and patient support throughout the year.
The 2026 BCI Walk for the Cure brought these efforts together in Mampong, combining community participation, survivor encouragement and calls for broader access to breast cancer awareness and screening in rural areas.
You can also read: Breast Care International Calls for Earlier Breast Cancer Detection in Ghana.
