Men Urged to Prioritise Prostate Health and Avoid Preventable Deaths

Accra: Mr Paul Kobla Mensa Kudonoo, President of The Cancer Project Foundation Ghana, has urged men to prioritise their health, particularly prostate cancer, to prevent needless deaths. He noted that many men aged 55 to 65 had lost their lives to the disease, despite screening and early detection being capable of saving them. Mr. Kudonoo gave the advice at the launch of The Cancer Project Foundation in Accra.According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Kudonoo expressed concern over the high number of preventable deaths caused by lack of awareness, late diagnosis, and the high cost of screening and treatment. The event was under the auspices of the Ga Mantse, Nii Teiko Tsuru II, and was themed 'Men United Against Prostate Cancer and Prostatitis.' Prostate cancer, a common malignancy in men, affects the prostate gland in the male reproductive system. It typically progresses slowly and may remain asymptomatic in its early stages. However, advanced cases present with urinary difficulties, painful urination or ejaculati on, blood in urine or semen, and pain in the back, hips, or chest. Age, family history, and genetic predisposition are key risk factors.Mr. Kudonoo stressed the importance of regular screening, stating, 'Men, take your personal health seriously, get yourself screened, if possible, twice a year, at least if once a year, that's fine but the best for you is twice a year.' He advised men to remain vigilant, adding, 'Aside from that, it is also important that you listen to your body.' 'The very minute you observe that you are unable to urinate properly, or you have some retention, kindly go to the nearest hospital and get checked,' he added. Mr. Kudonoo described the statistics as alarming, stating that '78 per cent of men get affected by the condition, and only about 8 or 9% of them were capable of seeking treatment, hence the establishment of a centre to allow men to undergo screening free of charge.' He emphasised that free screening would be the first step in tackling the issue and announced plans to expand services to other cancers, including breast and cervical cancer.Madam Justice Julia Naa Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, reaffirmed King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II's commitment to supporting the initiative and safeguarding lives. She stressed the urgency of addressing men's health, stating, 'We stand at this juncture where silence and inaction can no longer be tolerated.' 'For too many men are suffering in silence, families are grieving losses that could have been prevented, and lives are being cut short simply because we have not given men the tools, access, and awareness they need to survive.' Madam Amoah called on President John Dramani Mahama, the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, traditional leaders, churches, mosques, Corporate Ghana, and the media to support the initiative. 'This is not just a project, it is a legacy, a covenant with future generations of men and the Ga Mantse, who in his royal wisdom and humanity has taken the first step by lending his name, his palace, and his strength to support the project,' she stated.