By Uzor Odigbo
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Tin Can Island Port Complex (TCIPC) on Monday flagged off its 2019 prostrate cancer awareness screening campaign for men.
The five-day exercise is aimed at carrying out checks on the men above 40 years of age for possible risk and solutions before it gets out of hand.
On the programme, Dr. Chidiebere Ndukwe Ogo, the Chief Consultant, Neurologist of the Federal Medical Centre, said that the exercise was targeted at 40 years old men and above.
Ogo, however, commended the management of NPA for taking the health issue of its staff seriously, adding that it will help the workers to be more productive.
According to him, the gland is common with men, which usually develops into cancer, adding that one in every six men has the risk of developing prostrate in their life time.
He pointed out that the ailment was common among Nigerian men and often leads to death if not quickly detected and solutions provided.
“Prostrate cancer can be cured so long it is detected early in life and the right treatment given.
“One of the ways to detect it early here is what NPA is doing for its staff, which is called screening.”
He explained that the screening exercise was about asking questions from the staff and taking their blood sample for further test.
His words: “We use the minimum of 40 years old because below that age brackets, it is assumed that it is almost non-existent.”
He said that the process was aimed at estimating the risk of the cancer, pointing out that the turn out of personnel from the NPA Tin Can Island Port Complex was encouraging.
The medical expert said that the interaction between the doctor and individuals involved would be highly confidential based on the outcome of the result.
On the symptoms of the prostrate, he said that a patient would notice frequent passage of urine at night, noting that at times the affected persons experience break in urination and that such a person would not be able to hold urine for long else, he will wet his body.
On prevention, Ogo said that red meat intake must be reduced as well as drastic reduction in alcohol intake and cigarette smoking.
He added that a minimum of 50 staff were expected to come for screening per day to cover the complex.
