Johnson and Johnson Ghana Limited has partnered Zurak Cancer Foundation to create awareness about prostate cancer among Ghanaian men. The exercise which took place at the Accra Mall on Father’s Day June 17, saw staff of the Zurak Cancer Foundation, distributing educational materials to more than 400 men who had gone to the mall. They also interacted with them on the early signs to look out for and the importance of constant screening especially among men aged 40 years and above.
Globally, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men of African descent. In Ghana, evidence from population based screening showed a prevalence of 7% in men between 50 and 74 years. Generally, the chance of getting prostate cancer goes up quickly after the age of 50.
CEO of Zurak Cancer Foundation, Abdul Samed Zurak who led the team, told journalists the campaign is mainly seeking to educate men on the importance of screening for early detection. “The goal of this project is to interact with the 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 said.
According to him, “the project is also seeking to promote our early detection policy by trying to drive screenings and also provide opportunity for men to be able to screen for the disease as early detection is key to prevention”.
Men with a first degree male relative (father, brother) who had prostate cancer before age 65 have a twofold risk of developing the disease compared with men who do not have a first degree male with the disease.
The campaign was also to throw more light on the symptoms of prostate cancer which include difficulty in urinating, frequent urination, blood in urine and discomfort in the pelvic area.
Again, during the more than four-hour interaction, men were encouraged to main a healthy weight through regular physical activities and healthy diet.
Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational medical devices, pharmaceutical and consumer packaged goods manufacturing firm. It opened its Ghana Office in March 2017 and has been sponsoring Zurak cancer Foundation with its cancer campaign.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM/Tawakalitu Braimah
