GACCF – Ghana

We have partnered with academic centers in Ghana to host cancer awareness days with free cancer screenings and have ensured that those diagnosed with cancer get appropriate therapy. Activities also surround the training of medical physicists at the Mayo Clinic who then go on to support treatment in Ghana. Lastly, we are working with the government and the hospital administration to build a cancer patient hostel as patients have limited resources for lodging during treatment and sleep outdoors.

Project Overview

Most patients in Ghana are diagnosed with advanced cancer due to poor public awareness. We have partnered with academic centers to host cancer awareness days with free cancer screenings and have ensured that those diagnosed with cancer get appropriate therapy. Activities also surround the training of medical physicists at the Mayo Clinic who then go on to support treatment in Ghana. Lastly, we are working with the government and the hospital administration to build a cancer patient hostel as patients have limited resources for lodging during treatment and sleep outdoors. We have a plot of land donated by the hospital.

Target Regions: Kumasi, Ghana

Detailed Description:

The Global Access to Cancer Care Foundation has partnered with academic centers in Ghana to host cancer awareness days with free cancer screening and we have ensured that those diagnosed with cancer get appropriate therapy. Most patients in Ghana are diagnosed with advanced cancer due to poor public awareness. In 2020 the event brought out over 1,000 participants with 300 free screenings. The GACCF funded and supported the training of medical physics at Mayo Clinic in the fall of 2020. With the training received, and with other physicist and University support in Ghana, we are partnering with the hospital and University to initiate an oncology and medical physics-training program in Ghana. Lastly, many patients have limited resources for lodging during treatment and sleep outdoors. This has a negative impact on tolerance to cancer therapy and outcomes. We are working with the government and hospital administration to build a cancer patient hostel. We have a plot of land donated by the hospital and architects are currently drafting a design.