Mis·in·for·ma·tion From Ghana "News" Platform Breast Cancer Month Fail Once Again

Saturday, 19 October 2024

By: TB Obwoge

Once again as my nonprofit posts videos, information and awareness about breast cancer, it came across my feed. The dreaded posts from Ghana UTV platform, this year they've posted several videos promoting misinformation.

The fact that it was several videos in a row, was the worst part but the fact that their was a video from a prominent Ghanaian doctor that dispelled the myths that UTV Ghana posted is disheartening. That page, the media house has 2 pages and reaches over some 3 to 4 million followers.

The Ghanaian multimillionaire that owns it seems to post some of the most damaging posts I've ever seen making him the Elon Musk misinformation media of Ghana

There are so many articles and videos out there on the World-Wide-Web that can inform everyone about breast cancer. There are articles and videos that explain that it is a myth, that men sucking women's breasts doesn't prevent breast cancer. Yet every year Ghana's UTV posts the same stupid myth, every year without fail this same platform with upwards of 3 million followers post vile, sexist and mocking videos about breasts.

You would think this social media platform is run by a bunch of children, instead this is the brainchild of a Ghanaian millionaire.

Sucking a woman’s breast will not reduce her risks of breast cancer

Social media users and many online portals have circulated stories that suggest that the suckling of breasts, especially by spouses or partners, can reduce chances of breast cancer in both men and women. A Facebook post on March 18th, 2021, which suggested that women do not like their breasts sucked, generated comments which once again brought out the claim in question.

Members of the group within which the post was published responded, with many highlighting breast sucking as a remedy or preventative measure for breast cancer.“Doctors recommend that women reduce the risk of breast cancer, by having their breasts sucked. In a BBC news publication, it was reported that regular sucking of the breast lowers the risk of cancer. The breasts must be sucked as often as possible, to help women fight breast cancer. Please Suck and Save a Life Today.- Cancer Research.”

Verification

We found that although a lot has been written on the level of truth of this claim, many continue to circulate and believe the veracity of the claim.

Dubawa spoke to Dr. Bismark Dwobeng, a medical doctor at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (Radiation Oncologist), who attested to having heard this claim. He said that as an oncologist, however, he does not believe that there is any truth in claim.

“What we know about the breast being sucked is for babies because there is evidence for mothers who are able to breastfeed their children having reduced risks. Even in this case, we cannot say necessarily that it prevents breast cancer. What we can say is that the risks are reduced for women who breastfeed.”

Dr Dwobeng added that even though the claim is untrue, some truth may be in the assertion in terms of detection of breast cancer

Source: Dubawa.Org

In this video below, there is a video which is being shared on Facebook by a Ghanaian doctor telling others about this myth. Why would UTV do some research before sharing this misinformation? This is life in Ghana.

Some thing happened last year, the year before and the year before that Ghana's UTV shares this same lie, while also posting insulting videos sexualizing women. Never fails, every October, Ghana is not the place to be born a woman.

Here you can read what I wrote last year, 20 October 2023, this was a viral video of a Ghanaian woman trying to set a Ghanaian man straight for his sick jokes about breast cancer. Once you, like myself a person who went through the breast cancer nightmare, you don't find these jokes funny.

Also this UTV Ghana platform never posts that men can also get breast cancer.

The rape culture in Ghana is only hidden from those who refuse to accept the truth, sadly it doesn't seem as if it'll change any time soon.

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