FG urged to proclaim prostate cancer awareness
President Mohammadu Buhari has been urged to make a proclamation on National Prostate Cancer awareness in the year 2018′, similar to that of the 1971 Cancer Act of the United States of America, in order to tackle the scourge of prostate cancer in Nigeria.
Sulyman Alege Kuranga, a professor of Urology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), who made the plea in Ilorin equally advocated for more government’s investment in prostatic healthcare development and research in the country.
Kuranga, while delivering the 180th Inaugural Lecture of the University, entitled “The Experience of a Urological Surgeon in a Tertiary Institution in Sub-Saharan Africa”, described prostate cancer as an “epidemic in waiting” and one of the leading causes of death among males worldwide.
According to the inaugural lecturer, “prostate cancer is a potentially curable disease and not death sentence. Saying, it can be cured with early detection and prompt access to good medical facilities.
Kuranga, however, noted that most patients present themselves late, thereby making palliative option the only treatment for the physician.
While identified ageing, family history, race, obesity, sexually transmissible diseases, cigarette smoking, vasectomy, benign prostatic hyperplasia, among others, as some risk factors for prostate cancer, he added that ‘early detection of prostate cancer is the ultimate of any Urologist so that the scourge and the menace of this disease can be reduced to the barest minimum.’
Kuranga, who is also a former Director of the Academic Planning Unit of the University of Ilorin, recommended that “the present of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should make a proclamation on National Prostate Cancer awareness in the year 2018, such as similar to that of passing of the Cancer Act 1971 (the so called war on cancer), as it was in the USA.
“Also, government at all levels should organise and conduct a programme to promote awareness and early detection of prostate cancer as a matter of policy. This programme may include but not limited to the dissemination of information regarding the symptoms and signs of prostate cancer, the risk factors associated with it, the benefit of early detection, the treatment and consequences of delay in treatment.”
He noted that due to the nature of the health financing system in the country, it is difficult for most patients to fund the treatment required for prostate cancer.
“Facilities for radiotherapy are limited to five teaching hospitals in Nigeria and there is no time whereby all the five are optimally functional at the same time.
“In the developed world, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United State of America, when one attains the age of 60 years, transport and medical services are obtained free of charge. The aged are put into consideration when laws are being formulated.”
“We therefore call on the National Assembly to enact a law that would allow the aged in Nigeria to access free medical treatment for prostatic disease.
“Similarly, Government should create Ministry of the Aged or better still Ministry of Men Affairs and provide special policies that will bring relief to the aged, especially as it relates to age-related diseases like prostate cancer and BPH.
“There should be improvement in the financing of Tertiary Health Institutions so that up-to-date equipment can be purchased and relevant training provided. This will reduce medical tourism abroad.
“National Medical Laboratory Sciences Council should monitor the performance of PSA tests both at the public – State and Federal – and private laboratory facilities to ensure authentic and reliable results.
“And there should be an Act on prostate cancer; the Prostate Cancer Research and Prevention Act. The prostate cancer research and prevention institutes should be domiciled in tertiary institutions and funded by TETFUND, “he explained
The inaugural lecturer also refuted myths associated with the prostate cancer disease, stressing that the ailment is more aggressive among black Africans who were more likely to be affected and die from prostate cancer than other men.
Giving his contributions to the development of the field of Urology in Nigeria through the laying of a solid foundation for urological practice and training at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Kuranga identified some challenges to the management of prostate cancer in Nigeria to include: inaccuracy of current staging methods due to lack of relevant equipment and tools for the diagnosis of the disease, lack of culture of effective screening, inadequate manpower among others.
Speaking further, the don pointed out that the prostate gland plays a central role in man’s sexual and urinary functions. Thus, he admonished men to eat healthy and minimise the consumption of saturated fat and red meat.
“Men’s diet should be rich in lycopene (tomato) and other nutrients such as carrots and fresh vegetables, which are in abundance in Nigeria.
“It is also advisable to consume foods that are rich in Omega–3 fatty acid derivable from fish,” he advised
Wellness HMO adopts, offers three women lifetime access
In a bid to give back to the society, Wellness Health Management Services Ltd (Wellness HMO), one of Nigeria’s Nigeria’s leading health insurance providers, has adopted three women and offered them a seamless, lifetime access to quality health care called wellness for life.
According to the press statement made available to BusinessDay by the organisation, the three women are Comfort Segun, Afusat Jimoh and Bolajoko Ogunfowokan will have access the lifetime empowerment through Hadassah Healing Foundation, founded by Pastor Adenike Lamai.
The HMO said that the selected women would be educated on the benefits of the gift and how they can access health care seamlessly with their access cards.
Adetutu Afolabi, executive director, Wellness HMO, explained that the women were selected through a raffle draw at the last Hadassah event that took place on September 15, 2018 at Teslim Balogun Stadium.
“After the raffle, each of them was given a ‘Wellness for Life’ gift certificate.”
“For as long as Wellness is in business, we will ensure the sustainability of this initiative, and we will not stop at three. We hope to increase the number of beneficiaries yearly,” she said.
According to Afolabi, The choice of Hadassah Healing Foundation is because the Non-Governmental Organisation furthers the cause of women in Nigeria through community outreach programmes that help women acquire vocational and other life empowerment skills free of charge.
“For this year’s partnership, Wellness has decided to take the initiative a step further by adopting three women and taking care of their health needs for life.”
“Hadassah Healing Foundation approached us in 2015 to help conduct health screening for women, and we saw it as a good initiative.
“We believe that the vision bearer is doing a lot of good, because gathering less privileged women from all walks of life and deciding to teach them skills and also provide health services is a laudable project, especially because women are the pillars of the nation. When a woman is empowered, her community flourishes,” she added.
On the acceptance and patronage of health insurance in Nigeria, she said: “The acceptance of health insurance, is very low compared to the adoption of same in other African countries like Kenya and Ghana. There is the need for more education on the benefits of health insurance plans and how it can be included in individual and organisations’ financial planning. You actually save more and can prevent financial frustrations associated with emergency healthcare needs.”
Wellness promises her subscribers on retail and corporate plans peace of mind and an opportunity to enjoy healthcare plans suited to their needs.
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin