Prostate Cancer expert, Registered Naturopathic Doctor and Prostate Cancer Community Champion, Raphael Obu has kicked off the charity?s ?biggest ever? push to drive down the number of men diagnosed with the disease in Ghana. On father?s day Men?s Health Foundation Ghana in collaboration with Christian Community Microfinance Limited will provide free prostate cancer screening for men 35years and above for communities in Dodowa ?Akoto House.
The Sheffield Hallam University UK Msc Prostate Cancer graduate was himself inspired to become an ambassador for the cause after his loved ones and seeing number of elderly friends diagnosed with the disease in the country and eventually seeing them dying of the disease.
Ask why he is championing the cause; he said the Msc Prostate Cancer Program developed by Prostate Cancer UK in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University UK defines the role of the Prostate Cancer Specialist as
?The practitioner has in-depth knowledge and expertise in the management of prostate cancer. This should include knowledge about the psychosocial needs and priorities of men and their families, as well as the clinical aspects of the disease and the various treatment options.
The prostate cancer specialist should act as an ambassador for their patients and a peer supporter for other healthcare professionals involved in their care. As an ambassador they should be able to cascade information about a range of issues to colleagues from different health and social care disciplines, including non-registered practitioners. They should be experts at a local level, but also have the potential to engage with and influence agendas and policy at a national level.?
Now he is working with the charity Men?s Health Foundation Ghana to encourage men to ?man up? and address the issue head on by signing themselves up for tests. The charity has established a Naturopathic Clinic for men called DE MEN?S CLINIC & Prostate Research Lab in Dodowa-Akoto House. The charity also offers free prostate screening for men every Saturdays at the Clinic.
According to the Prostate Cancer Community Champion “One in every four of us black men will get prostate cancer. It?s a deadly game but the message is, ‘we can win this’. Men United is about men wising up to their risk, manning up to face it, and stepping up to demand better care. Prostate cancer has been the poor relation for far too long in Ghana. That has to change and Men United is the team to change it. But it needs every one of us, so support Men United and joins in.?
The campaign appeal to men and encourage them to address the issue and go for a check-up.
Ralph said: ?We need men to join the team in their thousands. Sports Bars, Pubs, clubs, Churches individuals ? let?s get everyone on the team. It?s easy ? just call us 0541090045 and invite us to your establishment and we will be there to provide expert talk on the disease and offer screening. We?re determined to make this as massive for blokes as the breast cancer campaign has been for women.”
Celebrities join in to stage Men United.
The charity hopes to see 50,000 men sign up for Men United, with plans to then sustain the conversation with them and support them with expert talk, where they can speak to peers and expert. Men?s Health Foundation Ghana, we lead change, we believed men deserves better treatment, we fund for research, push for prostate cancer policy in Ghana and raise awareness on prostate cancer in Ghana.
Source: Men?s Health Foundation Ghana
