Hundreds of market women in Techiman in the Bono East Region have benefited from free breast cancer screening organised by ASA Savings and Loans Limited as part of activities marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
The exercise, organised in partnership with Abrafi Hospital in Techiman, combined breast cancer education with free screening services.
Madam Ruby Arhin, a midwife, and Julius Adjei, a physician assistant, both of Abrafi Hospital, educated the women on breast cancer, its risk factors and prevention.
Madam Arhin urged the women to examine their breasts regularly and seek medical attention if they noticed any unusual changes. She stressed that early detection was crucial to effective treatment and could help prevent the disease from progressing.
She identified obesity, increasing age, menopause, smoking, alcohol consumption and radiation exposure as some of the risk factors. She also encouraged the women to maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet rich in vegetables, exercise regularly, limit alcohol consumption and avoid smoking.
Corporate Social Responsibility
The Techiman Area Manager of ASA Savings and Loans Limited, Isaac Kwasi Agyapong, said the initiative formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.
“We work closely with the market women, and it is important for us to help ensure that they remain healthy and strong so they can continue to do business with us,” he said, expressing satisfaction with the impressive turnout.
Mr Agyapong said that since its establishment in February 2008, the company had undertaken several CSR initiatives, including providing boreholes to underserved communities, donating medical supplies to health facilities, organising free health screenings, supplying educational materials to schools and undertaking tree-planting activities.
The CSR and Climate Change Officer responsible for ASA Savings and Loans’ Northern Sector, Ms Lily Opoku Mensah, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to promoting the welfare of its customers and the general public.
She said the company would continue to implement initiatives aimed at improving lives and contributing to national development.
