Health News of Sunday, 22 December 2013

Source: Daily Guide

Men seek support for prostate cancer treatment

Several men, particularly rural folks are flocking en-masse to the offices of Men’s Health Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) tackling men’s reproductive and prostate health issues for free screening.

The limited space and facilities at the Foundation’s Dodowa headquarters had prompted a general call for support from stakeholders.

According to Raphael Obu, the founder of Men’s Health Foundation, the Foundation is virtually overwhelmed by the number of men who are seeking solutions to their prostate issues, given the rising number of prostate cancer related deaths in Ghana.

“With the current trend of cancers in the country, the community needs these services to reduce the death rate from this dreaded disease,” Mr Obu told DAILY GUIDE.

The Foundation had established a specialized prostate cancer screening centre to offer free prostate cancer screening, provide expert talk on the disease and also provide a specialist level of cancer psychology services for patients, their families and partners.

Mr Obu indicated that he was undertaking the screenings from his own resources and the sheer number of patrons seeking help had compelled him to seek extra support from the government, health institutions and the general Ghanaian public to be able to expand his facilities to meet the growing demand of his specialist services.

Mr Obu- a radiotherapy and oncology trained in Sheffield Hallam University, UK, is calling on the Ghanaian government and other stakeholders to outline a specific policy on prostate cancer in Ghana as practised in the UK.

Recent prostate cancer research conducted in UK involving black men puts the risk factor to 1 in 4 for black Africans is a must wake up call.”

There is currently no organized screening programme for prostate cancer patients in Ghana, hence Men’s Foundation’s call for support in this regard.