Early detection is crucial in the fight against cancer.

Men have equally been urged not to assume that breast cancer is only for women as some men can also have it.

Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai of Breast Care International, has been at the forefront of organising free screening over the years.

On International Women's Day (IWD) Wednesday (March 8, 2023), she led a similar exercise as part of the campaign for early detection.   

Below is a copy of her speech on IWD

BY DR. (MRS.) BEATRICE WIAFE ADDAI, FOUNDER/PRESIDENT, BREAST CARE INTERNATIONAL, & CEO, PEACE AND LOVE HOSPITALS, ON THE OCASSION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, WEDNESDAY MARCH 8, 2023, NIMA, ACCRA

Sannu de zuwa (hello in hausa) I am very excited to be back home to Nima-Maamobi, where perhaps unknown to many of you, the formative roots of BCI and PLHs were developed. (na gode) thank you!

I recall the warmth of the people and the patronage I enjoyed from residents when we were barely known. Almost two decades into our operation, there could never be a better time than now to bring back to you, the baby you nurtured and directly benefit from the fruits of your hospitality.

CHERISHED GUESTS, may I, on behalf of the Board of Directors, Management and staff of my two sister institutions, Breast Care International, BCI and Peace and Love Hospitals, PLHs, pay glowing tribute to women in Ghana and across the globe, for standing up for their civil rights, and drawing attention to acts of injustices being meted out to women in deprived communities.

The continued re-awakening of our consciousness to challenges impeding our progress, bears testimony to our fidelity to the cause of the female textile torchbearers who triggered this struggle in New York on March 8, 1857.

Clearly, that pioneering  protest against unfair working conditions and unequal rights for women has not been in vain, given the sustained gains recorded by activists against artificial  barriers and inequalities against women. 

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS, women in Afghanistan, Libya and several other places where rights are under threat, should only remind us that the long walk to freedom is daunting and challenging, hence the need for our solidarity and support,  to bring alive the dreams of little girls yearning to become women of substance tomorrow.

The sterling performance of several renowned global women is sufficient evidence that a successful woman  is the one who can build a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at her.

Women, DISTINGUISHED CHAIRPERSON,  should resist all cultural stereotypes stifling our initiative and drive, either self-imposed or artificially crafted.

BCI and PLH are poised to move away from the generalities of the celebration and do some stock-taking on what pitfalls to avoid with the benefit of hindsight, and forge for a future with higher women inclusion in the decision making progress. 

The choice of Nima for this year’s celebration is deliberate, to the extent that this is a densely populated community with a high female population needing periodic, free breast screening which stands BCI out in the pursuit of the overall well being of our women.

Nima is sprawling community with a critical mass of businesses, especially Printing companies located here, which businesses establish your immense contribution to the country’s gross domestic product, GDP for short.

The humility and industry of women in this gender-sensitive community is common knowledge, relative to petty trading.

Team BCI/PLH is grateful for the warm reception.  Isn’t it about time we ventured into the male-dominated printing industry that Nima is noted for and  keep faith with the theme of the celebration: “DigitALL, innovation and technology for gender equality.”