Kessben FM offers prostate services to fathers
By: Issah Alhassan
The management of Kessben FM, a local radio station in Kumasi, brought smiles to fathers on Sunday, when they organised a free medical screening on prostate cancer for about 1,000 men in the metropolis.
The programme, which formed part of the station’s token towards the celebration of this year’s Fathers’ Day, was undertaken in collaboration with the Urology Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), with support from other companies.
About 1,000 men, of the age of 35 and above, were offered free medical services on prostate cancer, which is currently amongst the five most deadly diseases in Ghana.
The coordinator for the programme and broadcast journalist with Kessben FM, Mrs. Afia Korantemaa Oware, noted that the station, as part of its social responsibilities, decided to organise the screening free of charge for the beneficiaries.
She noted that under normal circumstances, one would require more than GH¢50 to undertake the screening, but the station, through its partners such as the Multi Credit Savings and Loans, Alpha Laboratory and the Urology Department, agreed to bear the cost.
Mrs. Korantemaa, who hosts a health magazine programme on the station, said prostate cancer had been identified to be associated with old age amongst men in Ghana, and said, much attention needed to be given to the disease.
“It is the duty of each and everyone to help ensure that the disease is totally eliminated from the Ghanaian society, because it is gradually gaining root amongst men over 35 years in Ghana; that is why Kessben FM decided to offer this free screening, as a way of giving back to society,” she noted.
She was, therefore, grateful to the CEO of Multi Credit Savings and Loans, Mr. Kwabena Kesse, and the management of Alpha Laboratory for their financial and logistical support.
A medical officer at the Urology Department of KATH, Dr. Kofi Gyasi-Sarpong, noted that early detection was the only way to help arrest the growing spate of the disease amongst males, and lauded the initiative of the station and its partners.
He said one in 10 black men were likely to test positive for prostate cancer, a situation which, he said, called for concern from all stakeholders in helping to eliminate the disease.
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