JoyNews Impact Maker Awardee HOL screens 400 women for breast and cervical cancer in Zebilla

JoyNews Impact Maker Awardee Haven of Love Children’s Foundation (HOL) has screened 400 women for breast and cervical cancer during a two-day free health outreach in Zebilla in the Upper East Region.

The exercise, held on October 28 and 29, 2026, at the Church of Pentecost Auditorium, was organised in collaboration with the Bawku West District Health Directorate’s Zebilla Town Clinic as part of activities marking Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

All 400 participants received both breast and cervical cancer screening, alongside health education and referral support.

Clinical findings identified 17 women with breast-related concerns, including palpable lumps, abnormal nipple discharge and significant breast pain, requiring further clinical assessment and diagnostic investigations.

Seven other women had positive results from Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA), a screening method used to identify possible cervical abnormalities, and were referred for further assessment and management.

The findings are screening results and do not amount to confirmed cancer diagnoses.

Dr A. Sadick, a medical officer at Zebilla District Hospital, said he had encountered several women presenting with breast and cervical cancer at advanced stages.

He said delayed presentation often makes treatment more difficult and welcomed the outreach as an opportunity to improve access to early screening.

Samuel Nana-Bekai Djirackor, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HOL and a recipient of the 2024 JoyNews Impact Makers Award in the Health and Social Welfare category, said the initiative was intended to bring preventive healthcare closer to women who might otherwise struggle to access screening services.

He stressed that the responsibility of healthcare providers and supporting organisations should extend beyond screening to ensuring that women who require further investigations can access appropriate care.

“Behind every woman screened is a life, a family and a future that matters. Think about the mother who cares for everyone but keeps postponing her own health check. Think about the woman who notices something unusual but is afraid or unable to seek help. How many women are still waiting for an opportunity like this?” he said.

“Our responsibility does not end with screening. We must also ask what happens to women who need further investigations. Can they access the care they need? We must ensure that screening leads to action and that women are not left to face their health challenges alone,” he added.

One beneficiary, Diana Agbango, expressed appreciation for the free service and encouraged other women to take advantage of similar opportunities.

She said the screening process was not painful.

The Zebilla exercise was the Foundation’s fourth cancer-screening outreach in 2026.

According to HOL, its previous interventions across the Bawku West and Nabdam districts, together with the latest exercise, have brought its total reach to more than 2,000 beneficiaries through cancer-awareness and screening initiatives.

The Foundation says it intends to continue taking preventive healthcare services to communities where access to screening opportunities may be limited.

HOL acknowledged the support of the Bawku West District Health Directorate, Zebilla Town Clinic, participating health professionals, volunteers and community members.

The Foundation also singled out Linda Atibera, a midwife at Zebilla Town Clinic, for her contribution to the planning and coordination of the exercise.

It has called on families, community leaders and health stakeholders to encourage women to undergo regular screening and support those referred for further investigations to access the necessary care.