The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program should be expanded to include vulnerable breast cancer patients who are stranded at the country’s various health facilities, according to Breast Care International (BCI).
BCI is of the opinion that the lives of numerous innocent but hardworking women could be saved with the assistance of the Ministry.
Dr. Beatrice Addai-Wiafe, president of the BCI, said in a speech she gave in Kumasi to the Ghana Headdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA) to celebrate their 50th anniversary that the LEAP program run by the Gender Ministry could be expanded to help less fortunate breast cancer patients.
She believes it will assist with medical treatment, feeding, and transportation.
“We informed Francisca Oteng-Mensah, the Deputy Minister of Gender, that breast cancer is causing the unnecessary deaths of many of our women.
“Sometimes [it] is due to poverty, and her ministry has funds that are used to assist the poor; the money could also be extended to breast cancer patients.
According to Dr. Addai’s explanation, “so those women who do not have money to travel from the small cities to the big cities for their treatment need to be supported,” and “sometimes they need money for transportation and feeding.”
She continued, “We’ve tried to discuss it, we’ve tried to hint to the Ministry that that is something it could do to prevent a lot of deaths.”
“So I went back to her and asked them if they could help our breast cancer patients who are poor, vulnerable women who aren’t going to the hospital because they don’t have the money. The Ministry could help put these women in their database so that they will also be receiving financial support,” I said. “They said yes, so I went back to her.”
According to Dr. Wiafe-Addai, “social support is critical for the survival and quality of life of breast cancer patients.”The prognosis and quality of life of breast cancer patients are significantly influenced by the availability and accessibility of social support or other forms of assistance.

However, poverty is one of the factors exacerbating the disease’s fight, as many disadvantaged women struggle to afford medication and other health services.

Dr Wiafe-Addai urged the Ghana Headdressers and Beauticians Association to screen their breasts on a regular basis for early detection and treatment.

Deputy Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Francisca Oteng-Mensah, speaking on behalf of the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, encouraged members of the association to capitalise on the opportunities presented by new technology in order to grow their businesses.

According to her, research shows that the beauty and hair industry is expanding and will be a major employer in the coming years because young people have begun to regard the industry as a skilled, fashionable, and modern occupation.

She advised the women to implement new branding and marketing strategies in order to significantly improve their business operations.

Hundreds of hairdressers and beauticians from the 16 regions of Ghana attended the event in Kumasi.

Some of them expressed excitement about the occasion, but they also urged the government to lower taxes on their businesses and keep the cedi from falling sharply.

According to them, the situation has recently had a negative impact on their businesses.

The event’s theme was “accelerating the adoption of digital solutions in the hair and beauty industry; the role of GHABA.”