Health News of Monday, 18 June 2018

Source: Komla Buami

Johnson & Johnson, Foundation fights prostate cancer among Ghanaian men

Zurak Cancer Foundation's logo Zurak Cancer Foundation's logo

American multinational medical devices, pharmaceutical and consumer packaged goods manufacturing firm, Johnson & Johnson has partnered Zurak Cancer Foundation, in undertaking a prostate cancer education campaign for men in Ghana.

On Sunday, June 17, which happened to be the 2018 edition of Father's Day Celebration, Zurak Cancer Foundation, engaged between 400 to 500 men from all walks of life at the Accra Mall to create awareness about prostate cancer.

The awareness campaign formed part of Johnson & Johnson's corporate social responsibility and sought to educate men on the early signs and symptoms of prostate cancer and its prevention.

Educative materials including flyers were distributed to the men including the Minister of Information, Mustapha Hamid who was at the Mall.

Aside the distribution of the educational materials, staff of Zurak Foundation including its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Abdul Samed Zurak, engaged the men in conversations about the early signs of the disease, how it can be prevented and the need to undertake periodic check-ups.

Mr. Zurak addressing the media on the sidelines of the life-saving exercise said "the goal of this project is to interact with men and give them much more information about the disease, and also encourage them to screen for the disease which is the most important part of the project."

He added that "it seeks to also promote our early detection policy by trying to drive screenings and also provide opportunity for men to be able to screen for the disease in order to ensure early detection."

About the two organizations

Johnson & Johnson is a New-Jersey-based multi-national manufacturer of pharmaceutical, diagnostic, therapeutic, surgical and biotechnology products, as well as hygiene company founded in 1886.

It established its Ghana Office in March 2017 and has been sponsoring the Zurak Cancer Foundation with its cancer projects.

The Zurak Cancer Foundation is a policy oriented and service delivery non-governmental organization (NGO) providing innovative solutions to the cancer prevalence in the country through awareness, education and free screening programs in hard to reach communities.