The Ghana Immigration Service Clinic in collaboration with St. John’s Hospital & Fertility Centre has organised a health talk on prostate cancer for Officers from Kotoka International Airport (KIA), Tema and Greater Accra Region (GAR) Commands, including Officers from the National Headquarters. The talk centred on the prevention, cure and symptoms of Prostate Cancer.
The Comptroller–General of Immigration, Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi, in his opening remarks described the talk as a very important and timely one, as he has taken keen interest in the recent statistics and reports of men affected by prostate cancer.
“It has come to my notice that, the prostate cancer disease is rampantly taking lives of some staff of GIS, especially during their old age.
“Prostate Cancer is currently recognised as the fifth most common Cancer in men. Upon knowing all this, it is my pleasure to bring this talk and screening on board, to ensure that the prostate health of my Officers is in order.”
Dr. Maxwell Nyinah, Urologist/Surgeon from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the resource person for the health talk, stated that Prostate Cancer has become a major disease, which is currently killing the men between the ages of fifty and above.
He again mentioned that Prostrate Cancer is now the fifth common Cancer in the cancer family, which is very common in blacks in their old age and it occurs when cells in the prostate grow out of control.
According to him, prostate cancer can remain symptomless in an individual for a long time until symptoms start to appear, by which time it could be too late for some patients. He added that men with family history of prostate cancer stand a high risk contracting the disease.
Dr. Maxwell Nyinah again stated that some preventive measure of prostate cancer includes one taking in balanced diet, having regular sex, minimising the eating of fatty foods, excessive eating of red meat and taking in more milk amongst others.
The Medical Practitioner at the GIS Clinic, Dr. Prince Boateng, advised that early detection is critical as prostate cancer is treatable.
Therefore, patients who become carriers of the disease should subsequently visit the hospital for regular checks in the early stages of the disease to reduce the risk the disease getting out of hand.
