The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) has intensified efforts to promote breast cancer awareness and early detection through a health advocacy programme organised in partnership with the Dzidula Pink Foundation.
The initiative, dubbed COMAC GOES PINK, was held at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) on 16th October 2026. The event brought together some participants from the downstream petroleum sector, to discuss breast cancer prevention, treatment and the importance of supporting people living with the disease.
Held under the theme, “Beyond the Diagnosis: Support, Strength & Hope,” the programme featured personal accounts from breast cancer survivors, medical question-and-answer sessions and wellness education aimed at encouraging early diagnosis and reducing the stigma associated with the disease.
Some breast cancer survivors also shared their treatment journeys with EnergyCrossroad, highlighting the challenges they faced and the importance of support throughout the treatment process. One of them madam Joyce Maldima advocated some of consistent exercising for breast cancer patients. ” I want to tell women who going through breast cancer treatment that a little exercising, five minutes a day helps us” she advised. She also advised the general public not to isolate breast cancer patients but to include them in their daily schedules. She said stigmatizing such patients only worsens their plight.
For her part madam Louisa Yayra Ahiabu encouraged women to consistently get screened for their breasts as early detection saves lives.
“When you go for screening and it is detected early, and you take up the treatment seriously plus all other things the doctors tell you are followed, you may not lose your breast“. She advised.
The CEO of COMAC Dr Riverson Oppong presented a cheque for ten thousand on behalf of the chamber to the Dzidula foundation.
The initiative forms part of COMAC’s broader commitment to promoting employee wellness, strengthening community health awareness and encouraging timely medical intervention.
Breast cancer remains a major public health concern in Ghana, where it is the leading cancer diagnosis among women and a significant cause of cancer-related deaths.
Late diagnosis continues to pose a serious challenge, with available estimates indicating that more than 80 per cent of cases are detected at advanced stages, when treatment can be more difficult and survival outcomes may be poorer.
Health professionals have consistently emphasised the importance of recognising early warning signs, seeking prompt medical attention and participating in appropriate screening programmes.
Women are encouraged to become familiar with the normal appearance and feel of their breasts, report unusual changes to a health professional and seek clinical breast examinations and mammograms when appropriate.
The COMAC initiative also sought to create a supportive environment for survivors, emphasising that a breast cancer diagnosis should not lead to discrimination or social isolation.
Through partnerships with health-focused organisations, the Chamber is seeking to strengthen public education and encourage more people to prioritise preventive healthcare and early medical intervention.
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