The Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the Anloga District has intensified calls for early cancer detection as Ghana joins the global observance of September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
The Service said early detection and prompt treatment remain critical to improving survival outcomes for children and men affected by the two forms of cancer.
Health Promotion Officer for the Anloga District of the Volta Region, Madam Dora Kugbonu, said childhood cancer, although less common than cancers among adults, remained a significant public health concern requiring greater public awareness.
She said the 2026 childhood cancer campaign, under the theme “Together, We Turn the World Gold,” uses the gold ribbon to symbolise the value of children and the courage of those battling cancer.
Madam Kugbonu urged parents and guardians to pay close attention to unusual changes in children’s health and seek medical attention when warning signs emerge.
She identified unexplained fever, sudden weight loss and persistent tiredness among symptoms that should prompt parents to seek professional medical assessment instead of assuming they would disappear without treatment.
According to health data cited by the GHS, Ghana records an estimated 1,200 to 1,500 new childhood cancer cases every year, but only about one-third of affected children reach treatment facilities.
The Service attributed the treatment gap largely to limited public awareness of childhood cancer symptoms and inadequate diagnostic capacity in some parts of the country.
Madam Kugbonu said efforts were being made to improve access to treatment, including the expansion of National Health Insurance Scheme coverage to four childhood cancers over the past three years.
She said further expansion of the coverage was planned, supporting efforts to contribute to the World Health Organisation’s global target of achieving at least 60 per cent survival for children with cancer by 2030.
The GHS is also using the September campaign to draw attention to prostate cancer, represented by the light blue ribbon, and encourage men, particularly those aged 40 and above, to prioritise regular screening.
The Service said prostate cancer is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers affecting men in Ghana and can develop without obvious symptoms during its early stages.
It therefore urged men within the risk age group not to wait until they experience symptoms before seeking screening.
The GHS also called for an end to stigma and hesitation surrounding prostate examinations, stressing that early screening could provide an opportunity for timely treatment and better outcomes.
As part of its “Your Health, Our Concern” mandate, the Service said health facilities, advocacy organisations and community groups across the country were expected to organise screening exercises and public education activities throughout September.
The GHS called on families, health professionals, the media and the general public to support the awareness campaigns and help spread information on early detection.
It encouraged the public to use the hashtags #TurnTheWorldGold and #ChildhoodCancerAwareness to promote the childhood cancer campaign, while urging men to make prostate health a priority throughout the month and beyond.
