1:"$Sreact.fragment"
3:I[24501,["/_next/static/chunks/0c02d8404d0e69a5.js","/_next/static/chunks/2a385111c3a36a6c.js"],"default"]
4:I[55339,["/_next/static/chunks/0c02d8404d0e69a5.js","/_next/static/chunks/2a385111c3a36a6c.js"],"default"]
5:I[30320,["/_next/static/chunks/e26eda3ab449ba18.js"],""]
f:I[44160,[],"default"]
:HL["/_next/static/chunks/7d8bdf648054615b.css","style"]
:HL["/_next/static/media/8e6fa89aa22d24ec-s.p.3aec397d.woff2","font",{"crossOrigin":"","type":"font/woff2"}]
:HL["/_next/static/media/a218039a3287bcfd-s.p.4a23d71b.woff2","font",{"crossOrigin":"","type":"font/woff2"}]
:HL["/_next/static/media/e2334d715941921e-s.p.d82a9aff.woff2","font",{"crossOrigin":"","type":"font/woff2"}]
:HL["/images/summerhealthlogo.png","image"]
2:T6f2,{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://summerhealth.io/#organization","name":"Summer Health","url":"https://summerhealth.io","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://summerhealth.io/images/summerhealthlogo.png","width":800,"height":200},"description":"Leading health technology company building advanced medical devices and healthcare software for Sub-Saharan Africa","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"Odofo Oye ST, 22 Close","addressLocality":"Accra","addressCountry":"GH"},"contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","telephone":"+233-500-490-065","contactType":"customer service","email":"hello@summerhealth.io","areaServed":"GH"},"sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/company/summerhealth","https://x.com/trysummerhealth"]},{"@type":"LocalBusiness","@id":"https://summerhealth.io/#localbusiness","name":"Summer Health","image":"https://summerhealth.io/images/summerhealthlogo.png","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"Odofo Oye ST, 22 Close","addressLocality":"Accra","addressCountry":"GH"},"geo":{"@type":"GeoCoordinates","latitude":5.6037,"longitude":-0.187},"telephone":"+233-500-490-065","email":"hello@summerhealth.io","priceRange":"$$","openingHoursSpecification":{"@type":"OpeningHoursSpecification","dayOfWeek":["Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday"],"opens":"09:00","closes":"17:00"}},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://summerhealth.io/#website","url":"https://summerhealth.io","name":"Summer Health","description":"Advanced health technology for Sub-Saharan Africa","publisher":{"@id":"https://summerhealth.io/#organization"},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://summerhealth.io/?s={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}}]}0:{"P":null,"b":"txTG8ccOkM2HBCmKYuog4","c":["","blog","2022-10-maternal-breast-cancer-screenings"],"q":"","i":false,"f":[[["",{"children":["blog",{"children":[["slug","2022-10-maternal-breast-cancer-screenings","d"],{"children":["__PAGE__",{}]}]}]},"$undefined","$undefined",true],[["$","$1","c",{"children":[[["$","link","0",{"rel":"stylesheet","href":"/_next/static/chunks/7d8bdf648054615b.css","precedence":"next","crossOrigin":"$undefined","nonce":"$undefined"}]],["$","html",null,{"lang":"en","children":[["$","head",null,{"children":["$","script",null,{"type":"application/ld+json","dangerouslySetInnerHTML":{"__html":"$2"}}]}],["$","body",null,{"className":"poppins_bf059bb3-module__3B9rOq__variable font-sans antialiased","children":["$","$L3",null,{"parallelRouterKey":"children","error":"$undefined","errorStyles":"$undefined","errorScripts":"$undefined","template":["$","$L4",null,{}],"templateStyles":"$undefined","templateScripts":"$undefined","notFound":[["$","main",null,{"className":"relative min-h-screen w-full flex items-center justify-center bg-white overflow-hidden","children":[["$","div",null,{"className":"absolute inset-0 opacity-[0.02]","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"absolute inset-0","style":{"backgroundImage":"radial-gradient(circle at 1px 1px, #111111 1px, transparent 1px)","backgroundSize":"40px 40px"}}]}],["$","div",null,{"className":"relative z-10 max-w-2xl mx-auto px-6 sm:px-8 text-center","children":[["$","div",null,{"className":"mb-12 flex justify-center","children":["$","$L5",null,{"href":"/","children":["$","img",null,{"src":"/images/summerhealthlogo.png","alt":"Summer Health","className":"h-10 sm:h-12 w-auto"}]}]}],["$","div",null,{"className":"relative mb-8","children":[["$","div",null,{"className":"text-[8rem] sm:text-[12rem] lg:text-[14rem] font-semibold text-[#111111] leading-none opacity-5 select-none","children":"404"}],["$","div",null,{"className":"absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center","children":["$","p",null,{"className":"text-xs sm:text-sm uppercase tracking-[0.2em] text-[#666666] font-semibold","children":"PAGE NOT FOUND"}]}]]}],"$L6","$L7","$L8","$L9"]}],"$La"]}],[]],"forbidden":"$undefined","unauthorized":"$undefined"}]}]]}]]}],{"children":["$Lb",{"children":["$Lc",{"children":["$Ld",{},null,false,false]},null,false,false]},null,false,false]},null,false,false],"$Le",false]],"m":"$undefined","G":["$f",[]],"S":true}
11:I[11271,["/_next/static/chunks/0c02d8404d0e69a5.js","/_next/static/chunks/2a385111c3a36a6c.js"],"OutletBoundary"]
12:"$Sreact.suspense"
14:I[11271,["/_next/static/chunks/0c02d8404d0e69a5.js","/_next/static/chunks/2a385111c3a36a6c.js"],"ViewportBoundary"]
16:I[11271,["/_next/static/chunks/0c02d8404d0e69a5.js","/_next/static/chunks/2a385111c3a36a6c.js"],"MetadataBoundary"]
6:["$","h1",null,{"className":"text-2xl sm:text-3xl lg:text-4xl font-medium text-[#111111] mb-6 leading-tight","children":"This Page is Under Maintenance."}]
7:["$","p",null,{"className":"text-sm sm:text-base text-[#666666] leading-relaxed mb-12 max-w-lg mx-auto","children":"We're actively building advanced health technology solutions. This page is currently under maintenance as we continue to engineer our platforms for Sub-Saharan Africa. Check back soon for updates."}]
8:["$","div",null,{"className":"flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-center justify-center gap-4","children":[["$","$L5",null,{"href":"/","className":"px-8 py-4 bg-[#111111] text-white text-sm font-medium rounded-xl hover:bg-[#333333] transition-colors whitespace-nowrap","children":"Return Home"}],["$","a",null,{"href":"mailto:hello@summerhealth.io?subject=General Inquiry&body=Hello Summer Health Team,%0D%0A%0D%0AI would like to get in touch regarding:%0D%0A%0D%0A","className":"px-8 py-4 border border-[#111111] text-[#111111] text-sm font-medium rounded-xl hover:bg-[#f5f5f5] transition-colors whitespace-nowrap","children":"Contact Us"}]]}]
9:["$","div",null,{"className":"mt-16 flex items-center justify-center gap-4","children":[["$","div",null,{"className":"h-px w-20 bg-gradient-to-r from-transparent to-[#e5e5e5]"}],["$","div",null,{"className":"w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-[#e5e5e5]"}],["$","div",null,{"className":"h-px w-20 bg-gradient-to-l from-transparent to-[#e5e5e5]"}]]}]
a:["$","div",null,{"className":"absolute inset-0 pointer-events-none bg-gradient-to-b from-white/50 via-transparent to-white/50"}]
b:["$","$1","c",{"children":[null,["$","$L3",null,{"parallelRouterKey":"children","error":"$undefined","errorStyles":"$undefined","errorScripts":"$undefined","template":["$","$L4",null,{}],"templateStyles":"$undefined","templateScripts":"$undefined","notFound":"$undefined","forbidden":"$undefined","unauthorized":"$undefined"}]]}]
c:["$","$1","c",{"children":[null,["$","$L3",null,{"parallelRouterKey":"children","error":"$undefined","errorStyles":"$undefined","errorScripts":"$undefined","template":["$","$L4",null,{}],"templateStyles":"$undefined","templateScripts":"$undefined","notFound":"$undefined","forbidden":"$undefined","unauthorized":"$undefined"}]]}]
d:["$","$1","c",{"children":["$L10",[["$","script","script-0",{"src":"/_next/static/chunks/e26eda3ab449ba18.js","async":true,"nonce":"$undefined"}]],["$","$L11",null,{"children":["$","$12",null,{"name":"Next.MetadataOutlet","children":"$@13"}]}]]}]
e:["$","$1","h",{"children":[null,["$","$L14",null,{"children":"$@15"}],["$","div",null,{"hidden":true,"children":["$","$L16",null,{"children":["$","$12",null,{"name":"Next.Metadata","children":"$@17"}]}]}],["$","meta",null,{"name":"next-size-adjust","content":""}]]}]
10:[["$","script",null,{"type":"application/ld+json","dangerouslySetInnerHTML":{"__html":"{\"@context\":\"https://schema.org\",\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Expanding Our Impact: Maternal and Breast Cancer Screenings\",\"description\":\"How we expanded our community health programs to focus on maternal health and breast cancer detection, addressing two of Ghana's most critical health challenges.\",\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Summer Health Foundation\"},\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Summer Health\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https://summerhealth.io/images/summerhealthlogo.png\"}},\"datePublished\":\"2022-10-15\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-10-15\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https://summerhealth.io/blog/2022-10-maternal-breast-cancer-screenings\"}}"}}],["$","main",null,{"className":"min-h-screen bg-white text-[#111111]","children":[["$","nav",null,{"className":"sticky top-0 z-50 bg-white/80 backdrop-blur-md border-b border-[#e5e5e5]","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"max-w-[1200px] mx-auto px-6 sm:px-8 lg:px-12 py-4 sm:py-5 md:py-6 flex items-center justify-between","children":[["$","$L5",null,{"href":"/","className":"flex items-center","children":["$","img",null,{"src":"/images/summerhealthlogo.png","alt":"Summer Health","className":"h-12 sm:h-14 md:h-16 lg:h-16 w-auto"}]}],["$","div",null,{"className":"flex items-center gap-4 sm:gap-6","children":[["$","$L5",null,{"href":"/blog","className":"text-sm text-[#111111] hover:opacity-60 transition-opacity","children":"All Posts"}],["$","$L5",null,{"href":"/","className":"px-4 sm:px-6 py-2 sm:py-3 border border-[#111111] text-[#111111] text-sm font-medium rounded-xl hover:bg-[#f5f5f5] transition-colors","children":"Home"}]]}]]}]}],["$","article",null,{"className":"max-w-[900px] mx-auto px-6 sm:px-8 lg:px-12 pt-12 sm:pt-16 lg:pt-20","children":[["$","nav",null,{"className":"flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-[#666666] mb-8","children":[["$","$L5",null,{"href":"/","className":"hover:text-[#111111] transition-colors","children":"Home"}],["$","span",null,{"children":"/"}],["$","$L5",null,{"href":"/blog","className":"hover:text-[#111111] transition-colors","children":"Blog"}],["$","span",null,{"children":"/"}],["$","span",null,{"className":"text-[#111111]","children":"Expanding Our Impact: Maternal and Breast Cancer Screenings"}]]}],["$","div",null,{"className":"flex flex-wrap gap-2 mb-6","children":[["$","span","Maternal Health",{"className":"px-3 sm:px-4 py-1.5 sm:py-2 bg-[#f5f5f5] text-[#111111] text-xs sm:text-sm rounded-full border border-[#e5e5e5]","children":"Maternal Health"}],["$","span","Cancer Screening",{"className":"px-3 sm:px-4 py-1.5 sm:py-2 bg-[#f5f5f5] text-[#111111] text-xs sm:text-sm rounded-full border border-[#e5e5e5]","children":"Cancer Screening"}],["$","span","Women's Health",{"className":"px-3 sm:px-4 py-1.5 sm:py-2 bg-[#f5f5f5] text-[#111111] text-xs sm:text-sm rounded-full border border-[#e5e5e5]","children":"Women's Health"}],["$","span","Foundation",{"className":"px-3 sm:px-4 py-1.5 sm:py-2 bg-[#f5f5f5] text-[#111111] text-xs sm:text-sm rounded-full border border-[#e5e5e5]","children":"Foundation"}],["$","span","Ghana",{"className":"px-3 sm:px-4 py-1.5 sm:py-2 bg-[#f5f5f5] text-[#111111] text-xs sm:text-sm rounded-full border border-[#e5e5e5]","children":"Ghana"}]]}],["$","h1",null,{"className":"text-3xl sm:text-4xl md:text-5xl lg:text-6xl leading-[1.15] font-medium text-[#111111] mb-6 sm:mb-8 tracking-tight","children":"Expanding Our Impact: Maternal and Breast Cancer Screenings"}],["$","div",null,{"className":"flex flex-wrap items-center gap-4 sm:gap-6 pb-8 mb-8 border-b border-[#e5e5e5]","children":[["$","div",null,{"className":"flex items-center gap-2","children":[["$","svg",null,{"className":"w-5 h-5 text-[#666666]","fill":"none","stroke":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","children":"$L18"}],"$L19"]}],"$L1a","$L1b"]}],"$L1c","$L1d"]}],"$L1e"]}]]
18:["$","path",null,{"strokeLinecap":"round","strokeLinejoin":"round","strokeWidth":2,"d":"M8 7V3m8 4V3m-9 8h10M5 21h14a2 2 0 002-2V7a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v12a2 2 0 002 2z"}]
19:["$","time",null,{"className":"text-sm text-[#666666]","children":"October 15, 2022"}]
1a:["$","div",null,{"className":"flex items-center gap-2","children":[["$","svg",null,{"className":"w-5 h-5 text-[#666666]","fill":"none","stroke":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","children":["$","path",null,{"strokeLinecap":"round","strokeLinejoin":"round","strokeWidth":2,"d":"M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z"}]}],["$","span",null,{"className":"text-sm text-[#666666]","children":[9," min read"]}]]}]
1b:["$","div",null,{"className":"flex items-center gap-2","children":[["$","svg",null,{"className":"w-5 h-5 text-[#666666]","fill":"none","stroke":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","children":["$","path",null,{"strokeLinecap":"round","strokeLinejoin":"round","strokeWidth":2,"d":"M16 7a4 4 0 11-8 0 4 4 0 018 0zM12 14a7 7 0 00-7 7h14a7 7 0 00-7-7z"}]}],["$","span",null,{"className":"text-sm text-[#666666]","children":"Summer Health Foundation"}]]}]
1f:T4b9,prose prose-lg max-w-none [&_p]:!text-[#111111] [&_li]:!text-[#111111] [&_h2]:!text-[#111111] [&_h3]:!text-[#111111] [&_strong]:!text-[#111111] [&_a]:!text-[#111111] [&_span]:!text-[#111111] prose-headings:font-semibold prose-headings:tracking-tight prose-h2:text-3xl prose-h2:!mt-20 prose-h2:!mb-6 prose-h2:!pt-8 prose-h2:border-t prose-h2:border-[#e5e5e5] prose-h3:text-xl prose-h3:!mt-12 prose-h3:!mb-4 prose-h3:!pt-6 prose-p:leading-relaxed prose-p:!mb-6 prose-p:text-base prose-a:font-medium prose-a:underline prose-a:decoration-2 prose-a:underline-offset-2 hover:prose-a:text-[#666666] prose-strong:font-semibold prose-ul:!my-6 prose-ul:list-disc prose-ul:pl-6 prose-ol:!my-6 prose-ol:list-decimal prose-ol:pl-6 prose-li:leading-relaxed [&_ul_li]:!mb-3 [&_ol_li]:!mb-3 prose-blockquote:border-l-4 prose-blockquote:border-[#111111] prose-blockquote:pl-6 prose-blockquote:!my-8 prose-blockquote:italic prose-blockquote:text-[#666666] prose-code:bg-[#f5f5f5] prose-code:px-2 prose-code:py-1 prose-code:rounded prose-code:text-sm prose-pre:bg-[#111111] prose-pre:text-white prose-pre:p-6 prose-pre:rounded-xl prose-pre:overflow-x-auto prose-pre:!my-8 prose-img:rounded-xl prose-img:shadow-lg prose-img:!my-820:T38b5,<h2>Two Critical Gaps in Women's Health</h2>
<p>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: <strong>maternal health</strong> and <strong>breast cancer detection</strong>.</p>
<p>The statistics were sobering:</p>
<ul>
<li>Ghana's maternal mortality ratio remains at <strong>310 deaths per 100,000 live births</strong>:far above the SDG target of 70</li>
<li>Breast cancer is the <strong>leading cancer among Ghanaian women</strong>, with most cases diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment options are limited</li>
<li>Many women in underserved communities receive <strong>no prenatal care</strong> in their first trimester, missing critical opportunities for early intervention</li>
<li><strong>Less than 10% of Ghanaian women</strong> have ever had a breast cancer screening</li>
</ul>
<p>We could make a difference. We had to make a difference.</p>
<h2>Maternal Health Screening Program</h2>
<p>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.</p>
<h3>What We Offer</h3>
<p>Our maternal health screening program provides comprehensive first-trimester and ongoing prenatal assessments:</p>
<p><strong>Initial Prenatal Assessment</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Pregnancy confirmation and dating</li>
<li>Blood pressure monitoring</li>
<li>Urine analysis for proteinuria and glucose</li>
<li>Anemia screening (hemoglobin testing)</li>
<li>Blood group and rhesus factor determination</li>
<li>HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B screening</li>
<li>Nutritional assessment and supplementation</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Risk Stratification</strong>
We identify high-risk pregnancies requiring specialized care, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Women with hypertension or diabetes</li>
<li>Multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets)</li>
<li>Previous pregnancy complications</li>
<li>Very young (&#x3C;18) or older (>35) mothers</li>
<li>Suspected fetal abnormalities</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Education and Support</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Birth planning and facility delivery counseling</li>
<li>Nutrition during pregnancy</li>
<li>Warning signs requiring immediate care</li>
<li>Breastfeeding preparation</li>
<li>Family planning options</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Referral Network</strong>
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.</p>
<h3>The Impact of Early Detection</h3>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>Preeclampsia Prevention</strong>: 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.</p>
<p><strong>Anemia Management</strong>: 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.</p>
<p><strong>Infection Control</strong>: STI screening and treatment in early pregnancy prevents congenital infections that can cause blindness, deafness, and developmental delays in babies.</p>
<p><strong>HIV Prevention</strong>: 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%.</p>
<h2>Breast Cancer Screening Initiative</h2>
<p>Breast cancer screening in Ghana faces multiple barriers: cost, awareness, availability of facilities, and cultural stigma. Our program addresses all of these.</p>
<h3>Our Approach</h3>
<p><strong>Clinical Breast Examination (CBE)</strong>
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.</p>
<p><strong>Risk Assessment</strong>
We use a standardized risk assessment tool to identify women who need more intensive screening:</p>
<ul>
<li>Family history of breast or ovarian cancer</li>
<li>Previous breast abnormalities</li>
<li>Late first pregnancy or no pregnancies</li>
<li>Early menarche or late menopause</li>
<li>Use of hormone therapy</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Breast Self-Examination Training</strong>
We teach women how to examine their own breasts monthly, empowering them to detect changes early. We provide illustrated guides in multiple local languages.</p>
<p><strong>Ultrasound Referrals</strong>
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.</p>
<p><strong>Mammography Access</strong>
For high-risk women over 40, we facilitate access to mammography through our partner hospitals, with subsidies available for those facing financial barriers.</p>
<p><strong>Navigation Support</strong>
A breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. Our patient navigators help women access treatment, understand their options, and connect with support services.</p>
<h3>Confronting the Stigma</h3>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Our program actively works to change this narrative:</p>
<p><strong>Community Education</strong>: We conduct talks in churches, mosques, schools, and community centers about breast cancer:emphasizing that it's treatable, especially when caught early.</p>
<p><strong>Survivor Testimonies</strong>: We work with breast cancer survivors who share their stories, showing that diagnosis is not a death sentence.</p>
<p><strong>Male Engagement</strong>: We educate husbands and partners about supporting women through screening and treatment, reducing household resistance to care-seeking.</p>
<p><strong>Privacy and Dignity</strong>: All screenings are conducted in private spaces by female healthcare providers, respecting cultural sensitivities.</p>
<h2>Real Lives, Real Impact</h2>
<h3>Grace's Story</h3>
<p>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."</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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."</p>
<h3>Ama's Prenatal Journey</h3>
<p>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.</p>
<p>When our mobile maternal health team visited her community, Ama was 14 weeks pregnant. Our screening revealed:</p>
<ul>
<li>Severe anemia (hemoglobin 7.5 g/dL)</li>
<li>High blood pressure (150/95)</li>
<li>Positive for syphilis</li>
</ul>
<p>Without intervention, Ama faced serious risks: preeclampsia, hemorrhage during delivery, stillbirth, or congenital syphilis in her baby.</p>
<p>We immediately:</p>
<ul>
<li>Started her on iron supplementation and dietary counseling</li>
<li>Referred her for hypertension management</li>
<li>Facilitated syphilis treatment for her and her partner</li>
<li>Connected her with antenatal care at a nearby clinic</li>
</ul>
<p>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.</p>
<p>"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."</p>
<h2>The Technology Advantage</h2>
<p>Our maternal and breast cancer programs leverage technology for maximum impact:</p>
<p><strong>Mobile Data Collection</strong>: Tablet-based screening forms allow real-time data entry, automatic risk scoring, and immediate identification of urgent cases.</p>
<p><strong>Patient Registries</strong>: Cloud-based systems track every woman screened, ensuring follow-up and longitudinal care continuity.</p>
<p><strong>SMS Reminders</strong>: Automated text messages remind women of follow-up appointments, ultrasound referrals, and delivery dates.</p>
<p><strong>Telemedicine Consultations</strong>: For women in remote areas, we offer teleconsultations with obstetricians and oncologists through our partner hospitals.</p>
<p><strong>Data Analytics</strong>: We analyze screening data to understand disease prevalence, identify high-risk communities, and optimize resource allocation.</p>
<h2>Partnerships Make It Possible</h2>
<p>Our expanded screening programs are possible only through strategic partnerships:</p>
<p><strong>Ghana Health Service</strong>: District health directorates help us identify underserved communities and integrate our programs with existing maternal health services.</p>
<p><strong>Teaching Hospitals</strong>: Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital provide specialist referrals and subsidized care for high-risk patients.</p>
<p><strong>Private Hospitals</strong>: Partner facilities like Motherlove Care Hospital and Agnes Ofori Community Hospital offer discounted diagnostic services for our patients.</p>
<p><strong>Pharmaceutical Companies</strong>: Donations of prenatal vitamins, iron supplements, and medications support our programs.</p>
<p><strong>International NGOs</strong>: Organizations like the Ghana Breast Cancer Foundation provide training, resources, and advocacy support.</p>
<h2>Measurable Outcomes</h2>
<p>In our first year of focused maternal and breast cancer screenings (October 2022 - September 2023):</p>
<p><strong>Maternal Health Program</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>2,847 pregnant women screened</strong></li>
<li><strong>892 first-trimester screenings</strong> (critical early detection window)</li>
<li><strong>412 high-risk pregnancies identified</strong> and referred</li>
<li><strong>1,200+ women</strong> received iron supplementation</li>
<li><strong>156 HIV-positive mothers</strong> connected with PMTCT services</li>
<li><strong>98% facility delivery rate</strong> among program participants (vs. 78% national average)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Breast Cancer Screening</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>5,632 women screened</strong> through clinical breast examination</li>
<li><strong>387 women</strong> referred for further diagnostic imaging</li>
<li><strong>23 breast cancers detected</strong> (early-stage in 18 cases)</li>
<li><strong>100% of diagnosed women</strong> connected with oncology care</li>
<li><strong>3,200+ women</strong> trained in breast self-examination</li>
</ul>
<h2>Challenges and Learnings</h2>
<p>No program is without challenges. Ours taught us valuable lessons:</p>
<h3>Challenge: Follow-Up Completion</h3>
<p>Many women didn't complete recommended follow-up tests, especially when they required travel or cost.</p>
<p><strong>Solution</strong>: We implemented a patient navigation system with dedicated staff who help women access care, arrange transportation, and secure financial assistance when needed.</p>
<h3>Challenge: Cultural Barriers</h3>
<p>Some communities were resistant to breast cancer screening, viewing it as unnecessary or inappropriate.</p>
<p><strong>Solution</strong>: We increased community engagement beforehand, working with local leaders, using local languages, and employing female healthcare workers from the communities we serve.</p>
<h3>Challenge: Resource Constraints</h3>
<p>Demand exceeded our capacity, especially for subsidized ultrasounds and specialist care.</p>
<p><strong>Solution</strong>: We expanded our fundraising efforts, created tiered subsidy systems based on need, and built more healthcare partnerships to increase referral capacity.</p>
<h2>Scaling for Greater Impact</h2>
<p>Success brings responsibility to reach more women. Our expansion plans for 2024-2025:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>10,000 maternal health screenings annually</strong></li>
<li><strong>15,000 breast cancer screenings annually</strong></li>
<li><strong>Geographic expansion</strong> to all 16 regions of Ghana</li>
<li><strong>Cervical cancer screening</strong> addition to our women's health portfolio</li>
<li><strong>Postpartum care program</strong> for new mothers</li>
<li><strong>Breast cancer treatment subsidies</strong> for low-income women</li>
</ul>
<h2>A Call to Action</h2>
<p>Women's health is family health. When mothers are healthy, children thrive, families prosper, and communities grow stronger.</p>
<p>But too many Ghanaian women still face preventable deaths from pregnancy complications and late-stage cancer diagnoses. We can change this.</p>
<p><strong>For Healthcare Professionals</strong>: Join our volunteer network. Your skills can save lives.</p>
<p><strong>For Corporate Partners</strong>: Sponsor screening events in your employees' communities or support our subsidy fund.</p>
<p><strong>For Community Leaders</strong>: Bring our programs to your area. Help us reach the women who need us most.</p>
<p><strong>For Individuals</strong>: Spread awareness. Encourage the women in your life to get screened. Support our work.</p>
<h2>The Future We're Building</h2>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>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 <a href="/">Summer Health</a>.</em></p>
1c:["$","div",null,{"className":"$1f","dangerouslySetInnerHTML":{"__html":"$20"}}]
1d:["$","div",null,{"className":"mt-12 sm:mt-16 pt-8 border-t border-[#e5e5e5]","children":[["$","p",null,{"className":"text-sm font-medium text-[#111111] mb-4","children":"Share this article:"}],["$","div",null,{"className":"flex items-center gap-3","children":[["$","a",null,{"href":"https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Expanding%20Our%20Impact%3A%20Maternal%20and%20Breast%20Cancer%20Screenings&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsummerhealth.io%2Fblog%2F2022-10-maternal-breast-cancer-screenings","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener noreferrer","className":"w-10 h-10 flex items-center justify-center border border-[#e5e5e5] rounded-lg hover:bg-[#f5f5f5] transition-colors","aria-label":"Share on X (Twitter)","children":["$","svg",null,{"className":"w-5 h-5","fill":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","children":["$","path",null,{"d":"M18.244 2.25h3.308l-7.227 8.26 8.502 11.24H16.17l-5.214-6.817L4.99 21.75H1.68l7.73-8.835L1.254 2.25H8.08l4.713 6.231zm-1.161 17.52h1.833L7.084 4.126H5.117z"}]}]}],["$","a",null,{"href":"https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsummerhealth.io%2Fblog%2F2022-10-maternal-breast-cancer-screenings","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener noreferrer","className":"w-10 h-10 flex items-center justify-center border border-[#e5e5e5] rounded-lg hover:bg-[#f5f5f5] transition-colors","aria-label":"Share on LinkedIn","children":["$","svg",null,{"className":"w-5 h-5","fill":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","children":["$","path",null,{"d":"M19 0h-14c-2.761 0-5 2.239-5 5v14c0 2.761 2.239 5 5 5h14c2.762 0 5-2.239 5-5v-14c0-2.761-2.238-5-5-5zm-11 19h-3v-11h3v11zm-1.5-12.268c-.966 0-1.75-.79-1.75-1.764s.784-1.764 1.75-1.764 1.75.79 1.75 1.764-.783 1.764-1.75 1.764zm13.5 12.268h-3v-5.604c0-3.368-4-3.113-4 0v5.604h-3v-11h3v1.765c1.396-2.586 7-2.777 7 2.476v6.759z"}]}]}]]}]]}]
1e:["$","div",null,{"className":"max-w-[900px] mx-auto px-6 sm:px-8 lg:px-12 py-12 sm:py-16 lg:py-20","children":["$","$L5",null,{"href":"/blog","className":"inline-flex items-center gap-2 text-sm font-medium text-[#111111] hover:gap-3 transition-all","children":[["$","svg",null,{"className":"w-4 h-4 transition-transform","fill":"none","stroke":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","children":["$","path",null,{"strokeLinecap":"round","strokeLinejoin":"round","strokeWidth":2,"d":"M15 19l-7-7 7-7"}]}],"Back to All Posts"]}]}]
15:[["$","meta","0",{"charSet":"utf-8"}],["$","meta","1",{"name":"viewport","content":"width=device-width, initial-scale=1"}]]
21:I[5969,["/_next/static/chunks/0c02d8404d0e69a5.js","/_next/static/chunks/2a385111c3a36a6c.js"],"IconMark"]
17:[["$","title","0",{"children":"Expanding Our Impact: Maternal and Breast Cancer Screenings - Summer Health Blog"}],["$","meta","1",{"name":"description","content":"How we expanded our community health programs to focus on maternal health and breast cancer detection, addressing two of Ghana's most critical health challenges."}],["$","meta","2",{"name":"author","content":"Summer Health"}],["$","meta","3",{"name":"keywords","content":"Maternal Health,Cancer Screening,Women's Health,Foundation,Ghana,Summer Health,health tech Ghana,healthcare innovation Africa"}],["$","meta","4",{"name":"creator","content":"Summer Health"}],["$","meta","5",{"name":"publisher","content":"Summer Health"}],["$","meta","6",{"name":"robots","content":"index, follow"}],["$","meta","7",{"name":"googlebot","content":"index, follow, max-video-preview:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1"}],["$","link","8",{"rel":"canonical","href":"https://summerhealth.io"}],["$","meta","9",{"name":"google-site-verification","content":"your-google-verification-code"}],["$","meta","10",{"property":"og:title","content":"Expanding Our Impact: Maternal and Breast Cancer Screenings"}],["$","meta","11",{"property":"og:description","content":"How we expanded our community health programs to focus on maternal health and breast cancer detection, addressing two of Ghana's most critical health challenges."}],["$","meta","12",{"property":"og:type","content":"article"}],["$","meta","13",{"property":"article:published_time","content":"2022-10-15"}],["$","meta","14",{"property":"article:author","content":"Summer Health Foundation"}],["$","meta","15",{"property":"article:tag","content":"Maternal Health"}],["$","meta","16",{"property":"article:tag","content":"Cancer Screening"}],["$","meta","17",{"property":"article:tag","content":"Women's Health"}],["$","meta","18",{"property":"article:tag","content":"Foundation"}],["$","meta","19",{"property":"article:tag","content":"Ghana"}],["$","meta","20",{"name":"twitter:card","content":"summary_large_image"}],["$","meta","21",{"name":"twitter:title","content":"Expanding Our Impact: Maternal and Breast Cancer Screenings"}],["$","meta","22",{"name":"twitter:description","content":"How we expanded our community health programs to focus on maternal health and breast cancer detection, addressing two of Ghana's most critical health challenges."}],["$","link","23",{"rel":"icon","href":"/favicon.ico?favicon.0b3bf435.ico","sizes":"256x256","type":"image/x-icon"}],["$","$L21","24",{}]]
13:null