The Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC), through its Human Resource Department, has organised a breast cancer awareness and screening exercise to promote early detection and improve the health and well-being of staff.
The exercise, held on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the NRCC Conference Hall in Tamale, brought together staff of the Council and a medical team from the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) for education and screening.
The initiative aimed to increase awareness of breast cancer, educate staff on preventive healthcare and encourage regular medical examinations, particularly among female employees.
In her opening remarks, the Head of Human Resource at the NRCC, Madam Lantana Kassim, warmly welcomed the medical team from the Tamale Teaching Hospital and expressed appreciation for its support towards the exercise.
Madam Lantana underscored the importance of the initiative, emphasising that the health and well-being of staff were essential to improving productivity and ensuring effective service delivery.
She urged staff, particularly women, to participate fully in the exercise and make regular health screening a priority, noting that early detection was important in improving breast cancer treatment outcomes.
Madam Lantana also encouraged staff to seek medical attention whenever they noticed unusual changes in their bodies. She expressed gratitude to the management of the NRCC for supporting the exercise and demonstrating its commitment to staff welfare.
Prior to the screening, the head of the medical team, Madam Gifty Sarfo Annan, educated participants on breast cancer, explaining the condition, its risk factors and measures that could help reduce the risk of developing the disease.
Madam Gifty emphasised the importance of understanding breast cancer and recognising possible warning signs early to facilitate timely medical attention and appropriate treatment.
She also demonstrated how to conduct breast self-examination, encouraging participants to regularly check their breasts for unusual changes and seek professional medical evaluation whenever necessary.
The medical team further took participants through available treatment options for breast cancer, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate medical care in managing the condition.
Madam Gifty urged women to take breast cancer screening seriously and avoid delaying medical consultations when they noticed unusual changes. She stressed that regular examinations and increased awareness were important components of preventive healthcare.
She also called on men to encourage their wives and other female relatives to undergo regular breast cancer screening, emphasising the role of family support in promoting early detection and timely treatment.
Following the educational session, participants underwent breast cancer screening conducted by the medical team from the Tamale Teaching Hospital as part of efforts to promote preventive healthcare among NRCC staff.
Some participants who benefited from the screening commended the medical team for its professionalism and dedication. They also expressed appreciation to the NRCC management and the Human Resource Department for organising the exercise.
The exercise highlighted the importance of collaboration between public institutions and healthcare providers in promoting health awareness, encouraging early detection and supporting the well-being of workers. It also reaffirmed the NRCC’s commitment to fostering a healthy and productive workforce for effective public service delivery in the Northern Region.