The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Tin Can Island Port Complex (TCIPC), on Monday, flagged off it’s 2019 prostrate cancer awareness screening campaign programme for men.
The 5-day exercise is aimed at carrying out checks on the men above forty years of age for possible risk and solutions before it is gets out of hands.
Dr. Chidiebere Ndukwe Ogo, Chief Consultant, Neurologist of the Federal Medical Centre who spoke with newsmen on the sideline of the programme, said that the exercise is targeted at men with age limit between forty and above.
Dr. Ogo commended the management of NPA for taking the health issue of its staff seriously adding that it will help the staff to be more productive.
According to him, the gland is common with men which usually develops into cancer, adding that one in every six man has the risk of developing prostrate in their life time.
He noted that the ailment is 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 noted that the screening exercise is about asking questions from the staff and taking their blood sample for further test
He said, “We use the minimum of forty years old because below that age brackets, it is assumed that it is almost non-existent.
He said the process is aimed at estimating the risk of the cancer, pointing out that the turn out of personnel from the NPA Tin Can Island Port Complex has been 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.
Harping on the symptoms of the prostrate, he said a patient would notice frequent passage of urine at night, noting that at times the affected persons experiences break in urination and that such a person would not be able to hold urine for long else, he will wet his body.
Speaking on the preventive measures to fight against the illness, Dr. Ogo maintained that red meat intake must be reduced as well as drastic reduction in alcohol intake and cigarette smoking.
He added that a minimum of fifty staff ate expected to come for screening per day to be able to cover the complex.
