In the past 24 months, Ghana has seen more than 27,000 new instances of cancer. During the same time span, nearly 17,000 people have died from cancer as a result of inadequate funding for treatment and delayed detection.
To assist its members who are afflicted with cancer, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Council established the GNAT Cancer Foundation.
The Global Cancer Observatory (Globocan) reports that throughout the previous five years, there have been 63,764 instances of cancer in Ghana.
Due to delayed diagnosis and cancer patients’ incapacity to pay for their care, over 17, 944 people have passed away from the disease.
The goal of the GNAT Cancer Foundation is to raise funds and awareness for the nation’s teachers who are afflicted with the disease.
Amadu Moses Baman, a Deputy General Secretary of GNAT, is optimistic that the establishment of the cancer foundation will help to enhance the general health of teachers.
He said, “we are not only interested in the teacher but their spouses and children under the age of 18 years are also covered by the GNAT cancer scheme.”
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He further explained that “a healthy teacher population is the Association’s priority, hence the need to put together the cancer scheme.”
Chairman of the GNAT cancer Foundation, Thomas Armstrong Asante said GH¢17.2million will be needed annually by the Association to meet the treatment needs of their members.
“If you are Ghanaian and you think a teacher has helped you to read and write, it is worthy to contribute GH¢5 to towards their cancer treatment”, he said.
As a result of GNAT’s acquisition of the Sweden Ghana Medical Center (SGMC), help is already available for member instructors who have cancer.
However, Dr. Clement Edusa, the CEO of the SGMC, promoted changing one’s lifestyle to lower one’s risk of developing cancer.
He voiced concerns about eating foods created chemically, drinking water contaminated by heavy metals, and leading a bad lifestyle.
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