March 31, 2026
The Department of Midwifery of the School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM), University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) has successfully concluded its maiden Breast Cancer Awareness Month celebration, leading a month-long initiative that promoted education, screening and advocacy in the fight against breast cancer.
The Department dedicated October 2025 to a fierce fight against breast cancer under the theme “Stronger Together: Uniting Efforts for Prevention and Support”.
The activities commenced with a colourful launch on Friday, October 10, 2025 at UHAS-SONAM, UHAS Main Campus, Sokode-Lokoe, Ho in the Volta Region of Ghana.
The Dean of SONAM, Professor Peter Adatara, launched the campaign with a call for participants to take breast health seriously, recalling the recent loss of a Level 200 student of the Department to breast cancer. He praised the Department for transforming grief into purposeful action, declaring that nurses and midwives carry a sacred responsibility to save lives through knowledge, compassion and vigilance.
The UHAS-SONAM Head of Department for Midwifery, Dr. Anthony Kuug, emphasized that awareness remains the strongest defense against breast cancer. He advocated for consistent self-examination and regular screening, noting that early detection and prompt treatment can make all the difference between life and loss. Dr. Kuug reiterated the fact that breast cancer is not a death sentence and that by harnessing knowledge, compassion and action, many lives will be saved.
Ms. Irene Torshie Attachie, a Midwife Specialist and Lecturer in the Department, spoke passionately about the psychological aspect of care. “Breast cancer does not only affect the body, it affects the mind and identity of a woman,” she said. She therefore called on midwives to provide not only clinical support but also emotional care, helping women rebuild confidence and hope.
Participants at the launch programme shared heartfelt testimonies from their encounters with breast cancer. They generally called for regular check-ups and readiness to seek help.
Upon the launch, the Department conducted outreach activities at Kodjobi in the Adaklu District on Sunday, October 19, 2025 and UHAS Main Campus, Sokode-Lokoe between October 20 and 22, 2025. The outreach activities saw faculty, staff and students collaborating to provide free breast examinations, education on self-checks and referrals to the Ho Teaching Hospital.
There was also a live panel discussion broadcast on YouTube (@UHASTV) on Friday, October 24, 2025, featuring Ms. Dinah Brenda Boateng Adu, an Assistant Lecturer at UHAS-SONAM Department of Midwifery and Ms. Portia Ahiaku Peka, a Midwife Specialist and UHAS-SONAM MPhil Student, with Ms. Ellen Mensah-Bonsu, a Lecturer at UHAS School of Allied Health Science, Department of Physiotherapy as the Host. The panel discussion session explored the myths and misconceptions surrounding breast cancer and professional roles in early detection, canvasing for the breast cancer awareness conversation to ever be kept alive in homes, schools and workplaces.
By fostering health awareness and service to society, the initiative aligns closely with the mission of UHAS in providing quality education, advancing research and delivering compassionate healthcare.