Ten Medical Experts Finish Rigorous Cancer Genetics Training At Columbia University

Ten healthcare workers from Peace and Love Hospitals and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) counseling center have completed a virtual four-week training program in cancer genetic modules at Columbia University in the USA.

The training, conducted from March 6th to March 28th, 2024, aimed to enhance the participants’ comprehension of cancer genetic counseling and testing through 8 modules, each comprising 8 sessions lasting 4 hours.

The training encompassed diverse subjects including genetics and the molecular principles of inheritance, human genetics with an emphasis on health and disease, indications for cancer genetic counseling, role-playing exercises, guiding decision-making, and the procedure for ordering testing, among other topics.

Among the professionals who took part in the training were Dr. Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, Dr. Abena Ofosuah Addai, Dr. Benjamin Oti Asante, Mrs. Victoria De-graft Agyei, and Mrs. Bernice Ofosuhene Peasah.

Rev. Patrick Agyekum, Ms. Rita Achiaa, Mr. Samuel Kwasi Wiafe, Ms. Priscilla Osei, and Elizabeth Aba Akoto also participated in the training.

Certificates of participation and completion were presented to the participants, including Dr. Mrs. Wiafe-Addai, Chief Executive Officer of Peace and Love Hospitals, during a brief ceremony held at the hospital’s premises.

Dr. Beatrice Wiafe-Addai emphasized the importance of the training, especially in light of the high prevalence of breast cancer in Ghana. She pointed out that nearly 30 percent of breast cancer cases in the country are triple-negative and typically affect individuals under 50 years old.

Dr. Wiafe-Addai conveyed optimism regarding the collaborative endeavors between Columbia University, Peace and Love Hospitals, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, noting that it could revolutionize breast cancer management. She underscored the significance of identifying hereditary breast cancer, which could provide valuable insights not only for patients but also for their family members, potentially indicating a risk for other types of cancers as well.