Delta Air Lines and Breast Care International mark 10 years fighting breast cancer across Ghana

A significant milestone in Ghana's public health efforts was marked this week as Delta Air Lines and Breast Care International (BCI) celebrated ten years of partnership dedicated to combating breast cancer across the country. The collaboration has delivered measurable impact, reaching more than 166,000 people with vital breast cancer education whilst screening over 22,500 individuals and identifying nearly 2,100 suspected cases requiring further investigation.

The anniversary was commemorated at the 2026 BCI Walk for the Cure held in Mampong, Ashanti Region, bringing together survivors, healthcare workers, community leaders and thousands of participants. The choice of Mampong as the host venue underscores a deliberate strategy to extend awareness beyond Ghana's urban centres into communities where access to breast cancer services remains limited.

Reaching rural Ghana

One of the partnership's most significant achievements has been its focus on rural screening initiatives. More than 70,100 women have been reached through targeted programmes in rural areas, addressing a critical gap in healthcare access. Sarah Annan, Operations Service Manager at Delta Air Lines, highlighted the importance of collective action in tackling the disease. "Ten years of partnership with BCI is a milestone we are proud of, but there is still work to do," she stated at the event.

The partnership's methodology combines awareness campaigns with practical screening services, helping communities understand warning signs and encouraging women to seek medical assessment promptly. Early detection remains crucial in improving treatment options and patient outcomes, though organisers acknowledge that screening alone cannot identify every case.

Why it matters for Ghana

Breast cancer remains a significant health challenge in Ghana and across West Africa, yet awareness and access to screening services remain uneven, particularly in rural regions. This partnership addresses both barriers simultaneously—raising awareness of the disease whilst bringing screening directly to underserved communities. The identification of nearly 2,100 suspected cases represents potential lives that can be saved through early intervention and appropriate treatment.

Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, President and Founder of BCI, emphasised the partnership's role in ensuring no community is left behind. "We are grateful for a partnership that has helped us reach people who might otherwise have been left out," she said, stressing the priority to expand reach, address barriers to early detection and improve access to information and screening regardless of geography.

Looking forward, both organisations have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding breast cancer education and screening in their second decade of partnership. The focus will remain on encouraging Ghanaians to seek timely medical attention whilst building capacity within communities to recognise and respond to the disease.

Looking ahead

As the partnership enters its next phase, the 2026 walk also served to honour breast cancer survivors and remember those lost to the disease, acknowledging the profound impact on families and communities. The event demonstrated that tackling breast cancer requires sustained commitment, adequate resources and genuine collaboration between private sector partners, health organisations and communities themselves. With over a decade of proven results, the Delta-BCI partnership offers a model for how strategic collaboration can deliver tangible health improvements across Ghana.