SMMC cancer campaign screens 368 women in first year

The Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church (SMMC) in the Ho Diocese have marked the first anniversary of their Veil of Hope Cancer Care Campaign, after a year of taking cancer education, screening and referral services to communities, parishes and schools across parts of the Volta Region.

The campaign, operated under the Mother’s HopenCare NGO, was launched on September 8, 2025, by the SMMC Superior General, Sr. Dr Lucy Hometowu, during the Silver and Ruby Jubilee celebrations of some members of the congregation.

Since its launch, the campaign has focused on breast, cervical and prostate cancer awareness, early detection, reducing stigma and providing psychological and emotional support to cancer patients and their families.

The initiative has screened hundreds of women and men through four outreach teams operating across the Ho, Jasikan and Keta-Akatsi areas, while suspected and confirmed cases have been referred to Catholic and government health facilities for further assessment and treatment.

The campaign also received financial support from more than 130 individuals and institutions, including parishes, hospitals, businesses and church groups.

The SMMC’s commitment to cancer care is rooted in personal experience. The congregation says it has walked “the painful road of cancer” with four of its members — three of whom died from the disease and one who survived.

That experience inspired the Veil of Hope campaign, which the Sisters describe as “a ministry of hope, remembrance, and healing”.

The initiative seeks to honour the memory of the Sisters who died, improve knowledge of cancer warning signs and symptoms, provide spiritual and emotional support to patients and families, promote screening in underserved communities and help survivors meet medical costs.

Its campaign message is simple: “Catch it early, treat it right, survive it.”

Taking cancer education to schools and parishes

The campaign has deployed four outreach teams, with two teams serving the Ho Diocese and one each serving the Jasikan and Keta-Akatsi areas.

Health professionals from local facilities have joined the Sisters during outreach programmes, which have combined public education with screening and referrals.

In the Ho Diocese, Team One, led by Sr. Magdalene Toffah, began its outreach at St Clare Parish, Kpando, on April 26, reaching a congregation of about 150 men, 350 women and 25 children.

The team subsequently visited the Immaculate Conception Parish in Kpando and St Augustine’s Parish in Alavanyo before continuing its education and screening activities at the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Kpando Agbenoxoe and the Kpando Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Cases identified during the exercises were referred to the Margaret Maquart Catholic Hospital in Kpando, Anfoega Catholic Hospital and other nearby health facilities.

Ho Team Two, led by Sr. Regina Korkoryi, began its work at OLA Senior High School on March 1, reaching more than 700 female students.

The team later conducted breast and cervical screenings at St Michael Catholic Church, Matse, and St Anthony of Padua Parish, Taviefe.

It went on to screen women at St Francis of Assisi Parish, Dzemeni, Holy Cross Catholic Church, Have, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Congress at Ho Kpevele, Hour of Preparation Ministry in Ho-Kpenoe and St Anthony of Padua Parish, Sokode-Gbogame.

The team recorded a total of 125 women screened and referred cases to Ho Teaching Hospital and Mater Ecclesiae Catholic Hospital.

Cancer cases detected during school outreach

The Jasikan Diocesan team, led by Sr. Comfort Ashinyo, took the campaign into schools and communities in the Jasikan and Guan areas.

At Nchumuruman Community Senior High School in Chinderi, the team addressed about 300 students and screened 60 girls.

At Kakraka, 47 people participated in the outreach, with 22 women screened and one case detected.

The team also screened women at St Patrick Catholic Church, Borae No. 2, where another case was identified.

During a later outreach from August 3 to 5, the team reached more than 2,000 students and staff across several schools and screened 222 females.

At Likpe Senior High School, three cases were detected among those screened. At Bueman Senior High School in Jasikan, seven students were found with breast lumps. One was already aware of her condition, while the remaining six were new cases.

The school’s Senior Housemistress expressed concern that some affected families might struggle to afford treatment and could resort to traditional medication.

The campaign team subsequently indicated its willingness to support affected families where possible.

The Sisters say the experience also highlighted a wider challenge: limited public knowledge about cancer and the need to encourage people to seek proper medical assessment when symptoms are detected.

Keta-Akatsi team expands screening

In the Keta-Akatsi area, the team led by Sr. Pauline Tenge began its outreach at Dzodze Roman Catholic Basic School on April 28, providing breast cancer screening and health consultations.

The following day, the team visited Afife Evangelical Presbyterian School, combining cancer education with breast screening and referrals.

The outreach reached 36 female teachers, of whom 21 underwent breast cancer screening. Seven were referred for mammograms, while detected cases were referred to Sacred Heart Catholic Hospital, Abor, and St Anthony Catholic Hospital, Dzodze.

Across the year, the campaign reports that 368 women were screened.

No one should face cancer alone

For the SMMC, the campaign is more than a medical outreach programme. It is also an expression of compassion and solidarity with people living with cancer.

The Sisters say their mission is driven by the belief that “no one should face cancer alone or too late”, with the campaign seeking to combine health education and early detection with spiritual and emotional support.

As the initiative enters its second year, Mother’s HopenCare NGO is appealing for continued financial support to sustain cancer education, screening and assistance for survivors.

The organisation is also appealing for vehicles to enable the outreach teams to reach more communities across their areas of operation.

The Sisters have expressed gratitude to donors, health professionals, priests, pastoral councils and drivers who have contributed to the campaign during its first year.

“Behind every veil, there is a story of courage,” the campaign says.