Dr. Philip Ohene Anokye, Clinical Coordinator at the Chiraa Government Hospital in the Sunyani West Municipality, has urged people living with hernia, breast tumour (fibroadenoma) and hydrocele to seek immediate surgical intervention before their conditions deteriorate.

He noted that many Ghanaian women with hernia and breast tumours often live with the conditions in silence, largely due to stigma and shyness, warning that delays in seeking care could lead to serious health complications. Hernia, he explained, can be particularly dangerous as it may damage the intestines and cause debilitating effects if left untreated.

Dr. Anokye made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani on the sidelines of a health outreach programme. He encouraged especially women not to feel embarrassed, but to speak up and access available surgical services.

The outreach initiative was spearheaded by the Sunyani East Member of Parliament, Mr. Seid Mubarak, in partnership with the Bono Regional Office of the National Health Insurance Authority and Rafchick Clinic, a private health facility. The exercise is providing free surgeries for people living with the conditions.

Dr. Anokye disclosed that the cost of surgery for such conditions typically ranges between GH¢6,000 and GH¢7,000, depending on the severity, and commended the MP for sponsoring the procedures to ease the financial burden on affected individuals.

In a separate interview, Mr. Mubarak stressed that poverty should not be a reason to deny anyone access to life-saving surgical care. He explained that beyond the free surgeries, the 10-day outreach programme, running from February 25 to March 5, would also register beneficiaries onto the National Health Insurance Scheme.

He added that a team of medical experts and health professionals would move from community to community to carry out the exercise and encouraged residents with the conditions to take advantage of the opportunity.

Source: GNA