Story by Raymond Rex Awiagah
The Initiative
The Ghana Prostate Cancer Diagnostic Charity has held an educational seminar for the residents of Kukurantumi, near Koforidua. The event aimed to enlighten the community about the risks, prevention, and treatment options available for prostate cancer.
Medical practitioners were brought in as resource persons to lead the discussions. They provided vital information on the importance of early detection and the latest diagnostic techniques. Interactive sessions were held, allowing the residents to ask questions and express their concerns, fostering a supportive community atmosphere.
The Advice
A medical Doctor at the New Tafo Government Hospital Dr. Kingsley Sefa Kwabi, one of the leading oncologists present, emphasized, that early detection can significantly increase the chances of successful treatment for prostate cancer.
“With cancer, the golden rule is early detection. Going to the hospital, and seeking treatment at the early stage can be cured and we should all endure to do that. At least once every year, we should all try”. He said.
Dr Sefa also called for a lifestyle change.
Point of view from Ghana Prostate Cancer Diagnostic Charity
The founder of the Ghana Prostate Cancer Diagnostic Charity, Madam Florence Taylor Acquah issued a call to action for Ghanaians and corporate institutions to lend their support emphasizing that, the enormity of the task of spreading awareness and education on this critical health issue cannot be handle by Government alone.
Highlighting the urgent need for a collaborative effort, Madam Florence Taylor Acquah stressed that additional resources and involvement from the corporate sector are essential to expand the organization’s outreach and impact, aiming to improve early detection and treatment outcomes.
“Charity is an act of providing a service without receiving any benefits whatsoever but at least it’s the support of people that charities can operate”. As a result of COVID, every country is struggling, the donors are dwindling. So on this occasion, I’m appealing to Ghanaians to come to our aid, especially those in the diaspora. This is where you come from. There’s no place like home so when you have your bread, well-buttered, think home think of your people, the people who’ve left years”.
Citing The Perfect Example
The founder of the Ghana Prostate Cancer Diagnostic Charity, Madam Florence Taylor Acquah highlighted the unique charitable culture in the UK where people donate to support charities.
” If you go to Britain, where I live, which is the Whittington, Hospital has got friends of the Whittington Hospital. Those who were born in that hospital, those whose loved ones received care or passed away, and those who reside around the hospital, support the hospital”. She reveals.
According to Madam Acquah, such a tradition of giving, not only strengthens healthcare services but rather fosters a deep sense of community and shared responsibility among donors while creating a resilient support network.
” My brothers and sisters who are in the diaspora, charity begins at home, come back home, don’t let us spend our money, our energies on things that will not satisfy, and let us come back home and support our hospitals and our neighbors. Yes, it’s difficult to be charitable but that is where the blessing is”. She added.
The Partnership
The prostate educational initiative which was undertaken by the Ghana Prostate Cancer Diagnostic Charity was in partnership with My Age My Help International. Its Executive Director Dr. Charles Ofosuhene Debrah spoke to Raymond News.
He said “My Age My Help International, we have a lot of old people under our sleeves, and we felt it important that prostate diseases are creeping into our organization and our people need to get to know what it is, which symptoms they are supposed to be very cautious about and then what we can also do to help them.
The Next Move
Touching on the way forward for My Age My Help International. Dr. Charles Ofosuhene Debrah said “You should be expecting that we’re going to collaborate more often. And then also, we will be having internal programs to also talk to our people more about it. We didn’t get the youth as we wanted so we going to use our members to also speak to the people as often as we can so that everybody in Kukurantumi will hear about prostate cancer”.
Conclusion
The seminar also highlighted lifestyle adjustments and nutritional habits that could potentially lower the risk of developing prostate cancer. The Ghana Prostate Cancer Diagnostic Charity also provided refreshments for the attendees.