Telecel Group’s Initiative to Combat Cervical Cancer in Ghana
Telecel Group has made a significant contribution to the fight against cervical cancer in Ghana by donating advanced diagnostic equipment and pledging free screening services for women at three major hospitals: Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital, and Sefwi Wiawso Government Hospital. This initiative is part of a broader effort to improve early detection and treatment of cervical cancer, which remains a critical health challenge for women in the country.
The donated equipment includes state-of-the-art digital colposcopes, HPV testing kits, and biopsy instruments. These tools are essential for identifying precancerous lesions and enabling timely interventions. The project aims to screen at least 5,000 women within its first year, with plans to extend services to underserved areas through mobile clinics and telemedicine via the Telecel Ghana Foundation.
At the handover ceremony, Mr. Moh Damush, CEO of Telecel Group, emphasized the importance of this initiative. “We are proud to see this project come to life to strengthen Ghana’s ability to detect and prevent cervical cancer, which is one of the most devastating diseases affecting women. We will continue to invest in the lives and potential of people, particularly women, who are the social and economic pillars of every African community.”
The project was executed in partnership with the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and the Ministry of Health. It marks the first major health project under the newly established Ghana Medical Trust Fund (Mahama Cares) and represents a significant step forward in Ghana’s efforts to combat late-stage cervical cancer detection and improve access to life-saving diagnostics.
Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah-Akandoh, praised the partnership and highlighted the potential impact on women’s health. “The installed cervical cancer equipment here at Korle-Bu, Sefwi Wiawso and Tamale hospitals will give women a fighting chance at early detection. It means fewer late diagnosis and fewer painful losses. We expect at least 2,000 undiagnosed cases of cervical cancer to be detected each year and more than 10,000 women to benefit directly from screening and early intervention in two years,” he said.
To ensure the sustainability of the initiative, Telecel also organized training for healthcare professionals in the beneficiary hospitals on the usage and maintenance of the equipment. This training is crucial for maintaining the effectiveness of the diagnostic tools and ensuring that they are used correctly.
In her welcome address, Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai, CEO of Telecel Ghana, advised every woman to get checked periodically. “This is a deliberate investment in health infrastructure for the reduction in late diagnosis of the disease. I would like to urge every woman in Ghana between the ages of 21 to 65 years to go for cervical cancer screening at least every 3 years to detect if there are any risks. Early detection, we are told, can save our lives.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cervical cancer is the second most common cancer that affects Ghanaian women, yet fewer than 10 per cent of women undergo screening. Each year, more than 3,000 women are diagnosed and tragically, nearly 2,000 lose their lives, with the vast majority due to late detection.
Sustained investment in screening, vaccination, and awareness around cervical cancer remains critical if Ghana is to meet the WHO’s global target of screening 70 per cent of women by ages 35 and 45.
Obuobia Darko-Opoku, Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, expressed gratitude for the partnership and commended Telecel for fulfilling their promise. “Telecel pledged to support the fight against cervical cancer by providing screening equipment across selected hospitals. True to their word, they have delivered. From Korle Bu to Tamale and Sefwi Wiawso, the installations have begun turning promises into purpose, and compassion into care. Today, we celebrate not just a partnership, but a demonstration of integrity and shared responsibility,” she said.
With this health intervention, thousands of women across Ghana will gain access to early detection, preventing avoidable deaths and preserving families, communities, and the nation’s future.