The Obaatan Pa Women’s Hospital in Accra has partnered with Soroptimist International Ghana to combat one of the deadliest threats to women’s health. The two organisations are teaming up for a free cervical cancer screening program aimed at empowering women and girls across the country.
The event, set for September 27 at the Catholic University of Ghana’s Accra campus, promises education, expert insights, and life-saving screenings to break down barriers to early detection.
The day is expected to feature a keynote talk by Dr. Juanita Nkansa, a clinical oncologist at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
The lead of the Cervical Cancer Eradication Project for Soroptimist International Ghana, Dr. Edwina Ayaaba Ayabilah, in an interview with journalists, highlighted the initiative’s community focus. Saying the free screening aims at making early detection accessible for all.
“We’ll be at the Catholic University of Ghana, Accra campus on the 27th of September to have a talk delivered by Dr. Juanita Nkansa, a clinical Oncologist at the Korlebu Teaching Hospital who will delve into what cervical cancer is, what we can do to prevent it, how we can treat cervical cancer and the various complications associated with it. We’ll also be offering free cervical cancer screening on that day. So please do attend in your numbers and help make this a great event,” Dr. Ayabilah said.
As a women’s advocacy group, Dr. Ayabilah noted the effort underscores their broader mission of improving the health of women and girls. “As a women’s group, we are doing this to improve the health of women and girls in the country,” She said.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cervical cancer ranks as the top cause of cancer-related deaths for women in sub-Saharan Africa. Of the 20 countries with the highest global burden, 18 fall within the WHO Africa Region. In 2022, Africa contributed to 23% of worldwide cervical cancer deaths, a figure projected to rise to 30% by 2030 if current trends persist, marking an increase of over 32% from today’s levels.
A total of 80,700 women in Ghana were reported in a 2021 WHO study to have died from cervical cancer in 2019 alone. The move is in synch with the WHO’s targets for elimination by 2030.
Soroptimist International, founded in 1921 as a volunteer service organization for women, now boasts nearly 66,000 members across 118 countries, with a core mission to transform the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment, and economic opportunities. In Ghana, the local chapter channels this ethos into targeted SDGs, including health.
Founded 10 years ago by University of Ghana graduates Dr. Amelia Laing and Dr. Cyril Ofori, the Obaatan Pa Women’s Hospital emerged from heartbreaking tales of preventable tragedies in maternal and reproductive care.
Starting with an outpatient department, in-house pharmacy, and a modest seven-bed inpatient unit (including three double rooms and a VIP suite), the facility has expanded to include a full laboratory, administration block, and three private rooms to serve its expanding clientele.
The facility strives to be a model of high-quality, affordable women’s healthcare delivered with dignity in a clean environment while subsidising care for those who can’t afford it and supporting local midwives, who handle most obstetric deliveries nationwide.