Spanish Couple Journey By Road From Spain To Ghana

A COUPLE from Spain, Claudia Maccioni and her husband, Jose Ramon Ruig, have done the unthinkable by journeying by road from Spain to Ghana, to create awareness about the deadly breast cancer disease. The couple, who tied the knot some few weeks ago, have been preaching about breast cancer in their native land, but have decided to use their honeymoon period to travel to Ghana to fight breast cancer. From Spain, they passed through Morocco then to Mauritania through to Senegal, Gambia, Mali and Burkina Faso before reaching Ghana, their final destination, last week to begin their crusade. The couple, who would spend about two weeks in Ghana would be hosted by Breast Care International Ghana (BCI) and Peace and Love Hospital, who have over the years been spreading the awareness of breast cancer. At a colourful welcoming ceremony at Peace and Love Hospital premises at Oduom in Kumasi, Claudia said she decided to volunteer and create awareness about breast cancer after she was diagnosed of having the disease some years ago. She said she heard about the activities of the Breast Care International�s activities, so she decided to travel with her husband to team up with her hosts to make more noise about the deadly disease in Ghana. Claudia, a breast cancer survivor, donated $13,000 to the Survivors Club of the BCI, Ghana to help in their daily outreach programmes, commending Dr Wiafe Addai for her efforts to battle the deadly disease. Dr Wiafe Addai who is also the CEO, Peace and Love Hospital, bemoaned the culture of silence on breast cancer despite WHO�s findings that breast cancer was claiming more lives than HIV/ AIDs and Tuberculosis. She entreated authorities concerned and Ghanaians at large to start making more noise about the deadly nature of breast cancer so that people would be aware of it, to help reduce fatalities. Dr Wiafe Addai cited lateness to hospital, usage of herbs on affected breast and victims of breast cancer preferring to stay at churches for help, as some of the challenges her outfit was facing. According to her, due to lack of knowledge about the disease, most victims roamed about at unapproved places for help, only turning to the appropriate hospital with their diseases at advanced stages where cure was very difficult. She flatly debunked reports that breast cancer was caused by witches and wizards, stressing that early detection and prompt action were the surest way to fight breast cancer. The Spanish couple during their stay in the country would be visiting survivors of the disease in their homes where they would interact and teach them about what to do to always stay healthy. They would also team up with BCI Ghana officials during their public outreach programmes at churches, schools and communities to teach the people about the dangers of breast cancer.