The medical outreach team and some of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) pose for a photograph during the prostate cancer awareness and screening in Badagry.

Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication, Africa Centre of Excellence (CAPIC-ACE), in partnership with Covenant University Community Development Impact Initiatives Committee (CU-CIIDC), the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Badagry Zone and Beulah World Initiative (BWI) at the weekend conducted free Prostate Cancer awareness and screening for farmers in the zone.

The medical outreach team cautioned that farmers and men, especially those within the age of 40 and beyond, are at risk of prostate cancer.

Against this backdrop, they urged men to go for medical checkups regularly to guide against prostate cancer and other related medical conditions as it is on the rise and the health of farmers, considering their role in the nation’s development, needs to be prioritised.

This admonition was handed by Covenant University Ota, Ogun State, during the institution’s Prostate Cancer awareness and free screening programme held over the weekend at the Badagry Local Government.

The activity saw over 200 participants undergo free tests, health talks on prostate cancer, enlightenment on general wellness, and medical advice, among others.

Addressing participants during a health talk session, Head CU Medical Centre, Dr Ademola Adebanjo, who identified symptoms of prostate cancer in men, said there is the possibility that some of them may have been experiencing similar symptoms, but applying different medications; hence the need to stop such an approach.

He said: “Prostate cancer is on the rise, and the symptoms are simple – urinary problems like going to the toilet often; getting to the bathroom but not being able to urinate; urinating but stopping midway; being unable to hold urine; or blood in the urine and all of that.

He said many of these symptoms happen to men, but unfortunately, many ignorantly use the wrong medications, saying such a scenario is akin to using the drugs for leprosy to treat malaria.

“Regrettably, many of them would probably have gone too far (in using wrong medications) and before they realised what was happening, the situation may have been prostate cancer that is now too advanced. That is why we are educating you all on the need to go for checks whenever you suspect you experience any of those symptoms.”

Adebanjo who described prostate cancer as the second deadliest for men after lung cancer, added that black men are more vulnerable to its infection than their white counterparts.

To guard against prostate cancer, he advised men to have plenty of sleep, maintain a healthy diet, avoid fatty food, exercise regularly, and stay off excessive alcohol consumption.

Similarly, the leader of CApiC-ACE, Prof Emeka Iweala, noted that the exercise forms a part of the six-year-old centre, geared towards fulfilling one of her core mandates of community engagement.

“We have done so many outreaches, but this is our first time in Badagry,” he continued, “One interesting thing about this outreach is that we are doing it for a specified population, which is farmers.

“We know how critical the role of farmers is to the nation. If the farmers are healthy, then we can rest assured of a regular food supply.”

Further, Iweala said, aside from admonishing farmers to know their status, the initiative is also to allay their fears that prostate cancer is tantamount to a death sentence.

“We are conducting free screening and tests for prostate cancer so that members of the community can know their status. Once they know their status, they know what to do next. Those who are negative only need to know how to prevent them, while those who are positive are enlightened on how to manage them.”

Going down memory lane, Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Badagry chapter, Alhaji Oyelekan Muftau Abiodun, recalled how he crossed paths with CAPI-ACE through one of their members.

He explained how he was buoyed into approaching them for collaborations because many of their members are ageing, and therefore needed the screening.

“This enlightenment is like an eye-opener for us,” Oyelekan stressed while underscoring the merits of the exercise.

“Just imagine when you are ignorant of something and here you have experts who are now shedding light on it. It’s not just about the empowerment, entertainment and the hospitality aspect, but the real message embedded in prostate cancer.”

Two of the beneficiaries, Olaleetan Elisha and Haruna Asegun, are happy that if anything, the talk allayed their fears of prostate cancer.

“I’ve heard about it (prostate cancer) before,” said Elisha, 59.

“Even though I have not experienced any of the symptoms mentioned during the health talk, I have always been reluctant to go for the test because of the fear of testing positive. But today, my fear was allayed. I now know that even if prostate cancer is detected early, it can still be treated.”

On his part, Asegun 52, hopes the marriage between the farmers and CU would continue as the latter constantly needs such education to stay healthy and be more productive.

Meanwhile, one of the partners of the outreach programme, Beulah World Initiative (BWI), expressed how glad they were to collaborate with CU since their mandates aligned.

Founder/Coordinator of BWI Ms. Chichi Ononiwu, outlines the tasks of the initiative.

“Our organisation pushes primary healthcare across rural communities in Nigeria. We have had over 120 outreaches in rural communities so far. We normally treat people, and conduct varying tests like blood, HIV/STD, genotype, eye, blood sugar and malaria. We also give out free drugs, eyeglasses, as well as free food to the elderly within the 65 and upward age bracket,” she said.

Ononiwu also identified some challenges ahead of the event.

“The test has been done and blood samples collected. We are going to give them their results in a few days. We will not stop here. We continue the free enlightenment for as many as require our assistance,” she concluded.

Independent.ng