BCI And Partners To Name Oncology Centre After Otumfuo

Breast Care International (BCI) and its partners will name the yet-to-constructed Oncology Centre in Kumasi after the 16th King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

This was disclosed to Otumfuo by the President of the BCI, Dr Beatrice Wiafe when she formally informed him about the construction of the Centre as a solution to the pressing need for home treatment for cancer.

She indicated that the decision to construct the Centre was born out of a report titled “The Lancet Oncology Commission on Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa” which focused on the challenges that accompany cancer in Africa as well as solutions.

According to her, the report which was conducted by the BCI and its partners found people in the Sub-Sahara were compelled to travel to countries like India, America or Europe for treatment when they contract cancer rendering the vulnerable miserable in this case since there isn’t a “stand-alone” centre for the treatment of the disease.

Together with Global Health Catalyst, Peace and Love Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Pennsylvania, BCI will be constructing the Centre soon after a groundbreaking ceremony by Otumfuo.

The project will sit on a 52-acre land which was gifted to the Peace and Love Hospital by Otumfuo.

“Otumfuo gave us a 52-acre plot for expansion of Peace and Love Hospital but we have given it out for the project…we want to name the project after Otumfuo when it is done,” she said during a courtesy call to the Manhyia Palace on November 8.

According to her, the team had to travel to meet stakeholders from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States of America earlier this year to fashion out the project.

His Majesty commended Dr Wiafe for the project.

He observed, “This didn’t begin here. She {Dr Wiafe} began with advocacy and sensitization on cancer. Now this is what her vision has birthed. I pray it goes well for her…I urge all her partners to give her their utmost support.”

Among the delegation were some Board members of the BCI and Peace and Love Hospital and representatives from Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Pennsylvania.