The West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) completed on October 15 and 22 two events under its annual breast cancer awareness campaign, 'Nufu Festival'.
Now in its third year, the campaign targeted the University of Ghana community and petty traders at the Tema Station, a busy bus terminal in Accra, as more than 200 women participated in an adjusted schedule of activities to conform with COVID-19 safety protocols.
Nufu Festival seeks to tackle widely held myths surrounding breast cancer, which have led to harmful socio-cultural attitudes towards the disease and the people affected by it. Every October, WACCBIP researchers interact with women about the disease, creating awareness and providing free breast examinations for hundreds of women. This year, in line with COVID-19 safety protocols, the WACCBIP team demonstrated the steps involved in conducting the self-exam, encouraging the women to do it themselves regularly.
“We had to maintain social distancing and so we resorted to not giving actual breast exams like we normally do,” said Dr. Lily Paemka, who leads the campaign. “We had to focus our efforts a lot more on teaching the women how to conduct the breast exam themselves, [which] I thought was more effective.”
Trained research assistants took turns in demonstrating how to appropriately conduct self-examination with the aid of specialized breast mannequins,. which showed symptoms of breast cancer at various stages. This helped participants to understand key differences in healthy and infected breast tissue that would help them identify any potential signs of cancer development.
Besides breast cancer, the team also spoke to the women about COVID-19 and the need to protect themselves by following recommended safety protocols.
"We also gave out reusable, branded mask with distinctive colours,” Dr. Paemka said. “So, in that regard, we are able to spread the message beyond [the events]. The participants had an opportunity to ask questions as well, and we had the needed conversations in small groups. It was more intimate and I think ultimately it was a more effective event.”
A market woman at the Accra Tema Station and beneficiary of the event, Madam Kate Hagan was excited to have participated in the activities.
"I am very happy to have participated in todays' activity. I keenly followed the health personnel demonstration of how to examine the breasts," she said. "I will check my breast every month and teach my fellow women at the market how to examine theirs.”
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