News

The Ghanaian Battalion 92 (GHANBATT 92) serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), has held a comprehensive breast cancer awareness campaign as a move to promote health and well-being among its peacekeeping troops.The event, held on Tuesday, 21 October 2025, under the theme, “Every story matters; Every journey is unique,” aimed to dismantle myths and educate all personnel on the pervasive nature of the disease.The Principal Nursing Officer for the Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Agnes Awudi, set the tone in her opening remarks emphasizing that the program was crucial to raise awareness that "both men and women are at risk of getting breast cancer."This message was reinforced by the Senior Medical Officer, Captain John Nii Ayite Carroll, during a detailed lecture. Capt Carroll highlighted the often-overlooked fact that men can also develop breast tumors or cancer. He provided a stark reality check, disclosing that breast cancer is not only the most common cancer worldwide but also the leading cause of cancer mortality in Ghana.

To underscore the global scale of the issue, Capt Carroll presented compelling statistics, revealing that breast cancer accounts for 11.6% (approximately 2.1 million cases) of all cancer incidences and 6.6% (about 627,000 deaths) of all cancer mortalities worldwide.The Commanding Officer for the Battalion, Lt Col Evans Yaw Mensah Komedjah, delivered a strong call to action. He firmly stated that breast cancer is “not a women’s issue but affects all,” breaking down gender stereotypes associated with the disease.Lt Col Komedjah stressed the life-saving importance of regular screening. He also urged the male personnel to be pillars of support for family members facing breast cancer, fostering a message of collective responsibility and compassion.The CO expressed gratitude to the battalion’s medical team for organizing the timely and impactful awareness campaign, which equipped personnel with vital knowledge to protect their health and support their communities.