Two Critical Gaps in Women's Health

October 2022 marked a pivotal expansion of the Summer Health Foundation's mission. After a successful first year of general health screenings, we identified two areas where focused intervention could have outsized impact: maternal health and breast cancer detection.

The statistics were sobering:

Ghana's maternal mortality ratio remains at 310 deaths per 100,000 live births:far above the SDG target of 70
Breast cancer is the leading cancer among Ghanaian women, with most cases diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment options are limited
Many women in underserved communities receive no prenatal care in their first trimester, missing critical opportunities for early intervention
Less than 10% of Ghanaian women have ever had a breast cancer screening

We could make a difference. We had to make a difference.

Maternal Health Screening Program

Pregnancy should be a time of joy and anticipation, not anxiety and risk. Yet for many Ghanaian women, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas, prenatal care remains inaccessible or unaffordable.

What We Offer

Our maternal health screening program provides comprehensive first-trimester and ongoing prenatal assessments:

Initial Prenatal Assessment

Pregnancy confirmation and dating
Blood pressure monitoring
Urine analysis for proteinuria and glucose
Anemia screening (hemoglobin testing)
Blood group and rhesus factor determination
HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B screening
Nutritional assessment and supplementation

Risk Stratification We identify high-risk pregnancies requiring specialized care, including:

Women with hypertension or diabetes
Multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets)
Previous pregnancy complications
Very young (<18) or older (>35) mothers
Suspected fetal abnormalities

Education and Support

Birth planning and facility delivery counseling
Nutrition during pregnancy
Warning signs requiring immediate care
Breastfeeding preparation
Family planning options

Referral Network Every pregnant woman in our program is connected to a healthcare facility for delivery and ongoing care. We've partnered with hospitals and birthing centers across our service areas to ensure smooth referrals.

The Impact of Early Detection

Early prenatal care saves lives:both mothers and babies. Our program specifically targets first-trimester screenings because this is when many complications can be predicted and prevented.

Preeclampsia Prevention: We identified 34 women with elevated blood pressure in our first three months, connecting them with care to prevent preeclampsia: a leading cause of maternal death in Ghana.

Anemia Management: Over 40% of pregnant women in our screenings showed signs of anemia. Iron supplementation and dietary counseling can prevent severe anemia, which contributes to maternal mortality and poor birth outcomes.

Infection Control: STI screening and treatment in early pregnancy prevents congenital infections that can cause blindness, deafness, and developmental delays in babies.

HIV Prevention: Mother-to-child HIV transmission is preventable with proper antiretroviral therapy. Our screening connects HIV-positive mothers with treatment, reducing transmission risk from 25% to less than 2%.

Breast Cancer Screening Initiative

Breast cancer screening in Ghana faces multiple barriers: cost, awareness, availability of facilities, and cultural stigma. Our program addresses all of these.

Our Approach

Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) Trained nurses and doctors perform thorough breast examinations for all women aged 30 and above. CBE can detect many breast cancers and costs nothing to the patient.

Risk Assessment We use a standardized risk assessment tool to identify women who need more intensive screening:

Family history of breast or ovarian cancer
Previous breast abnormalities
Late first pregnancy or no pregnancies
Early menarche or late menopause
Use of hormone therapy

Breast Self-Examination Training We teach women how to examine their own breasts monthly, empowering them to detect changes early. We provide illustrated guides in multiple local languages.

Ultrasound Referrals Women with suspicious findings on CBE are referred to partner facilities for breast ultrasound. For those who cannot afford it, our foundation subsidizes the cost.

Mammography Access For high-risk women over 40, we facilitate access to mammography through our partner hospitals, with subsidies available for those facing financial barriers.

Navigation Support A breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. Our patient navigators help women access treatment, understand their options, and connect with support services.

Confronting the Stigma

In many Ghanaian communities, cancer carries significant stigma. People whisper about it. Families hide it. Women delay seeking care because they fear the diagnosis or the social consequences.

Our program actively works to change this narrative:

Community Education: We conduct talks in churches, mosques, schools, and community centers about breast cancer:emphasizing that it's treatable, especially when caught early.

Survivor Testimonies: We work with breast cancer survivors who share their stories, showing that diagnosis is not a death sentence.

Male Engagement: We educate husbands and partners about supporting women through screening and treatment, reducing household resistance to care-seeking.

Privacy and Dignity: All screenings are conducted in private spaces by female healthcare providers, respecting cultural sensitivities.

Real Lives, Real Impact

Grace's Story

Grace, a 47-year-old seamstress from Kasoa, came to our breast cancer screening event because her friend convinced her. "I didn't think I needed it," she told us. "I felt fine."

During the clinical breast exam, our nurse detected a small lump in Grace's right breast. She was referred for ultrasound, which showed a 1.5cm mass. Biopsy confirmed early-stage breast cancer.

Today, after surgery and treatment at our partner oncology center, Grace is cancer-free. "If I had waited until I felt sick, until the lump was visible, it would have been too late," she says. "This screening saved my life."

Ama's Prenatal Journey

Ama, a 23-year-old first-time mother from Ashaiman, didn't know she was pregnant until her second trimester. She couldn't afford the hospital registration fees for prenatal care.

When our mobile maternal health team visited her community, Ama was 14 weeks pregnant. Our screening revealed:

Severe anemia (hemoglobin 7.5 g/dL)
High blood pressure (150/95)
Positive for syphilis

Without intervention, Ama faced serious risks: preeclampsia, hemorrhage during delivery, stillbirth, or congenital syphilis in her baby.

We immediately:

Started her on iron supplementation and dietary counseling
Referred her for hypertension management
Facilitated syphilis treatment for her and her partner
Connected her with antenatal care at a nearby clinic

We subsidized her care costs and followed up throughout her pregnancy. Ama delivered a healthy baby boy at 39 weeks. Mother and child are thriving.

"I didn't know pregnancy could be dangerous," Ama told us. "I thought you just wait and then have the baby. You taught me so much, and you saved us both."

The Technology Advantage

Our maternal and breast cancer programs leverage technology for maximum impact:

Mobile Data Collection: Tablet-based screening forms allow real-time data entry, automatic risk scoring, and immediate identification of urgent cases.

Patient Registries: Cloud-based systems track every woman screened, ensuring follow-up and longitudinal care continuity.

SMS Reminders: Automated text messages remind women of follow-up appointments, ultrasound referrals, and delivery dates.

Telemedicine Consultations: For women in remote areas, we offer teleconsultations with obstetricians and oncologists through our partner hospitals.

Data Analytics: We analyze screening data to understand disease prevalence, identify high-risk communities, and optimize resource allocation.

Partnerships Make It Possible

Our expanded screening programs are possible only through strategic partnerships:

Ghana Health Service: District health directorates help us identify underserved communities and integrate our programs with existing maternal health services.

Teaching Hospitals: Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital provide specialist referrals and subsidized care for high-risk patients.

Private Hospitals: Partner facilities like Motherlove Care Hospital and Agnes Ofori Community Hospital offer discounted diagnostic services for our patients.

Pharmaceutical Companies: Donations of prenatal vitamins, iron supplements, and medications support our programs.

International NGOs: Organizations like the Ghana Breast Cancer Foundation provide training, resources, and advocacy support.

Measurable Outcomes

In our first year of focused maternal and breast cancer screenings (October 2022 - September 2023):

Maternal Health Program

2,847 pregnant women screened
892 first-trimester screenings (critical early detection window)
412 high-risk pregnancies identified and referred
1,200+ women received iron supplementation
156 HIV-positive mothers connected with PMTCT services
98% facility delivery rate among program participants (vs. 78% national average)

Breast Cancer Screening

5,632 women screened through clinical breast examination
387 women referred for further diagnostic imaging
23 breast cancers detected (early-stage in 18 cases)
100% of diagnosed women connected with oncology care
3,200+ women trained in breast self-examination

Challenges and Learnings

No program is without challenges. Ours taught us valuable lessons:

Challenge: Follow-Up Completion

Many women didn't complete recommended follow-up tests, especially when they required travel or cost.

Solution: We implemented a patient navigation system with dedicated staff who help women access care, arrange transportation, and secure financial assistance when needed.

Challenge: Cultural Barriers

Some communities were resistant to breast cancer screening, viewing it as unnecessary or inappropriate.

Solution: We increased community engagement beforehand, working with local leaders, using local languages, and employing female healthcare workers from the communities we serve.

Challenge: Resource Constraints

Demand exceeded our capacity, especially for subsidized ultrasounds and specialist care.

Solution: We expanded our fundraising efforts, created tiered subsidy systems based on need, and built more healthcare partnerships to increase referral capacity.

Scaling for Greater Impact

Success brings responsibility to reach more women. Our expansion plans for 2024-2025:

10,000 maternal health screenings annually
15,000 breast cancer screenings annually
Geographic expansion to all 16 regions of Ghana
Cervical cancer screening addition to our women's health portfolio
Postpartum care program for new mothers
Breast cancer treatment subsidies for low-income women

A Call to Action

Women's health is family health. When mothers are healthy, children thrive, families prosper, and communities grow stronger.

But too many Ghanaian women still face preventable deaths from pregnancy complications and late-stage cancer diagnoses. We can change this.

For Healthcare Professionals: Join our volunteer network. Your skills can save lives.

For Corporate Partners: Sponsor screening events in your employees' communities or support our subsidy fund.

For Community Leaders: Bring our programs to your area. Help us reach the women who need us most.

For Individuals: Spread awareness. Encourage the women in your life to get screened. Support our work.

The Future We're Building

Every woman deserves to experience pregnancy safely. Every woman deserves access to cancer screening that could save her life. These shouldn't be privileges: they're fundamental rights.

The Summer Health Foundation's maternal and breast cancer programs are steps toward that future. Through technology, partnerships, and community-centered care, we're making it real, one woman at a time.

The Summer Health Foundation provides free health screenings and subsidized care to underserved communities across Ghana. Learn more about our programs or support our mission at Summer Health.

Expanding Our Impact: Maternal and Breast Cancer Screenings