Grassroots health champion screens 110+ Mamobi residents for breast cancer, diabetes in second Zongo campaign

A community-led health initiative has brought preventive screening to over 110 residents of Mamobi in Accra, with medical personnel identifying three participants with breast lumps and multiple cases of elevated blood sugar levels. The second edition of the Zongo Health Campaign, held in October at Tuwon Zara 2, represents a growing effort to make healthcare awareness and early detection a reality in communities where access to such services has historically been limited.

The screening exercise was organised by broadcast journalist and community development advocate Hawawu Abdul Karim, known professionally as Young Pioneer, in partnership with Accra Newtown Islamic Hospital. What began as a response to a social media post by midwife Samira Atcha Affo, who raised concerns about low breast cancer awareness among Hausa-speaking communities and Zongo leaders, has evolved into a structured public health intervention targeting some of Ghana's most underserved populations.

Building Trust Through Community Leaders

A key innovation of this campaign is its deliberate engagement of religious leaders, imams, community influencers and media partners to champion health messaging. Rather than treating breast cancer awareness as a top-down health ministry initiative, organisers recognised that trusted voices within Zongo communities—including religious figures and local media—are more effective channels for encouraging women to seek screening and families to support them.

Medical personnel who conducted the screenings advised those with preliminary findings of breast lumps to pursue further diagnostic assessment, with appropriate referrals made for additional care. Organisers were careful to emphasise that lumps identified during the exercise were preliminary observations, not confirmed diagnoses, underscoring the importance of proper clinical follow-up.

The campaign received logistical and financial support from Alhaji Ahmed Iddris Abubakar Sarki Jordan, Sarkin Cissawan West African, alongside media partnerships that helped publicise the event and drive participation.

Why It Matters for Ghana

Breast cancer remains a significant public health challenge in Ghana, yet awareness and early detection rates remain low, particularly in marginalised communities. According to global health data, early detection dramatically improves treatment outcomes and survival rates. However, many Ghanaian women lack access to routine screening, health information in their preferred languages, or culturally sensitive health messaging.

This grassroots model offers a practical demonstration of how community-driven health initiatives can bridge gaps left by formal healthcare systems. By embedding cancer awareness within trusted social and religious structures, the Zongo Health Campaign bypasses common barriers such as language, cultural sensitivity and trust deficits that often prevent vulnerable populations from accessing health services.

The campaign's success also reflects broader recognition within Ghana's health sector that prevention and early detection, rather than curative treatment alone, are essential to improving population health outcomes. Elevated blood sugar cases identified during the screening point to the dual burden of chronic disease facing urban poor communities.

Sustaining the Momentum

Hawawu has stated her vision is to make breast cancer awareness an ongoing conversation within Zongo communities, emphasising that the initiative is driven by life-saving goals rather than fundraising. The first edition took place in 2025, with the October 2026 exercise marking the second year, suggesting an emerging pattern of annual or regular screening campaigns.

Beneficiaries have expressed gratitude and called for the campaign's continuation, indicating strong community demand for such services. As Ghana's health system grapples with resource constraints and uneven service distribution, community-led initiatives like this demonstrate the potential for civil society actors, working with hospitals and media, to extend preventive care to populations who might otherwise go unscreened.