Women inmates at the Nsawam Female Prison in Ghana’s Eastern Region have received gifts and breast cancer screening support from the Naomi Mikafui Breast Cancer Foundation as part of an initiative aimed at improving breast health awareness and access to healthcare among incarcerated women.
The outreach took place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, under the foundation’s Mikafui Pink Conference (MiPiCON 2026), organised around the theme, “Closing the Care Gap: Actionable Advocacy.”
The initiative brought breast cancer education, awareness, and screening activities to the correctional facility, providing inmates with an opportunity to learn more about the disease, understand the importance of early detection, and engage with health professionals.
The visit was met with excitement among the inmates, who welcomed the opportunity to receive information about breast cancer screening and learn more about protecting their health. Prison officials also expressed excitement about the initiative, highlighting the value of bringing health education and awareness activities to women in their care.
Breast cancer education takes centre stage
A key part of MiPiCON 2026 was its focus on helping participants understand breast cancer, recognise possible warning signs and learn about available approaches to screening and treatment.
The programme featured educational sessions covering several areas of breast health, including understanding breast cancer and breast anatomy, breast self-examination, diagnosis, cancer staging and treatment options.
Other topics included breast cancer risks and signs, as well as healthy eating behind bars. These discussions were designed to provide practical information that participants could use to make more informed decisions about their health.
The programme brought together health professionals and other contributors to address breast cancer from medical, educational and practical perspectives.
Among the listed resource persons were Dr Omaima Mohammed Arab, a specialist in training in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital; Mrs Racheal Regina Hesse, a midwifery officer at Ridge Hospital; Dr Mesharck A. Ocran, a resident doctor at Ridge Hospital; Mrs Christiana Mensah Doe, a midwifery officer with the Ghana Health Service; and Ms Gertrude Nyanor Issa, a public health professional.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Antoinette Sena Ami Yali of the Ghana Prisons Service was also scheduled to address the subject of caring for inmates with cancer, covering facts, misconceptions and support.
The educational component was complemented by breast screening activities, giving the initiative a practical dimension beyond awareness alone.
Inmates and prison officials welcome the initiative
The excitement expressed by the inmates reflected the importance of taking health education into settings where access to information and healthcare services may present particular challenges.
For the women who participated, the visit offered an opportunity to engage with information about breast cancer, ask questions, and better understand the importance of paying attention to changes in their bodies and seeking appropriate medical attention.
The prison officials also welcomed the outreach, recognising the importance of health awareness and screening for women living within the correctional facility.
By combining education, screening and the presentation of gifts, the initiative sought to address both health awareness and the well-being of the women reached.
The outreach also drew attention to the need to include incarcerated women in broader public health education efforts. Their circumstances should not prevent them from receiving relevant health information and appropriate healthcare support.
Why the foundation chose Nsawam Female Prison
According to the MiPiCON 2026 brochure, the initiative was designed to address the healthcare needs of incarcerated women, who may encounter barriers to accessing screening and treatment.
The brochure describes Nsawam Female Prison as Ghana’s largest women’s correctional facility. Established on December 10, 1973, the institution operates under the Ghana Prisons Service and accommodates adult female prisoners, remand prisoners, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and elderly inmates.
The foundation identified the facility as an important setting for its breast cancer education, awareness and screening activities, with the aim of helping women gain knowledge and resources to prioritise their health, support early detection and improve their overall well-being.
The approach reflects the broader need to ensure that health education and preventive healthcare initiatives reach people in different circumstances, including those living in correctional facilities.
A mission inspired by Naomi Mikafui Ehun-Addo
The Naomi Mikafui Breast Cancer Foundation was established in memory of the late Naomi Mikafui Ehun-Addo, whose experience with breast cancer inspired a commitment to awareness, education and support for people affected by the disease.
In the foundation’s introductory message in the MiPiCON 2026 brochure, its founder and executive director recounts how Naomi’s breast cancer journey began in September 2022, only a few months after their marriage. Despite the challenges of treatment, she remained committed to the vision of helping people affected by breast cancer and their caregivers.
Following her death on May 25, 2024, the founder resolved to carry that vision forward through the foundation.
Its stated mission includes raising awareness, promoting education, providing meaningful support to people affected by breast cancer and their caregivers, and championing breast cancer research in Ghana and beyond.
MiPiCON 2026 and the outreach at Nsawam Female Prison form part of this wider commitment to making breast cancer information and support more accessible.
Closing the care gap through action
The visit to Nsawam Female Prison demonstrated how breast cancer awareness initiatives can extend beyond conventional public campaigns to reach communities and groups whose healthcare needs may receive less attention.
By bringing together education, screening and the presentation of gifts, the Naomi Mikafui Breast Cancer Foundation sought to make breast health awareness more accessible to women within the facility.
The excitement shared by the inmates and prison officials underscored the value of the engagement and the importance of continuing conversations about breast cancer, early detection and access to healthcare.
As the foundation continues to pursue the vision inspired by Naomi Mikafui Ehun-Addo, initiatives such as MiPiCON 2026 highlight the role of advocacy in turning awareness into practical action and ensuring that more women have opportunities to learn about and prioritise their health.
