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The prostate cancer charity, Men’s Health Foundation Ghana has made an appeal to the president, John Dramani Mahama to declare father’s day a prostate cancer day in Ghana just as the Valentine day has become the National Chocolate day.

This the charity believe is one of the measures to help raise awareness on prostate cancer  and therefore churches, individuals, media houses , corporate institutions , charities and philanthropist will use the day to organize programs and free prostate check for the men.  

According to the president of  Men’s Health Foundation Ghana, Dr. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu, a registered naturopathic doctor, prostate cancer expert , researcher  and PhD candidate in prostate cancer at the Indian Board of alternative medicine, Kolkata, India, said prostate cancer is more aggressive in men of African descent and they have about 60% chances of getting prostate cancer and 1 in 5 Ghanaian men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime , there is the need for the government to pay more attention to men’s health and the charity believes that the first step to help the men in Ghana is for the president and  Ghana to recognize fathers day as  National prostate cancer day. 

He said that campaign played a huge part in making many Ghanaians aware of this disease, so that support can follow for new treatments and an ultimate cure. Most research in prostate cancer does not factor in black men which the charity believes is one of the disparities and the charity believe that it is time for Ghana to start local research into prostate cancer and better management strategies for Ghanaian men.

“Indeed, there’s very little emphasis on men’s health issues in today’s society. Men are less prone to visit a doctor or to speak of health issues. Yet men are just as likely to die from various ailments, including prostate cancer he said”

Dr. Nyarkortey said enormous work and awareness has been done for breast cancer in Ghana and prostate cancer needs similar awareness.  More Men lives need saving, too and that’s why we are  asking the President to   throw full support behind this year father’s day in June 21 and recognized it as  National Prostate Cancer Awareness  day  and the Men’s Charity will be very happy if the president show that he also support men’s  health. 

“At Men’s Health Foundation we believe men deserve better hence we fight to help more men survive prostate cancer and other men’s health issues and enjoy a better quality of life.” We fight so that more men survive Prostate Cancer in Ghana. The men’s charity hopes the president hears their appeals and takes this first measure to save men’s prostate health in the country.  The men’s charity provides information and advocacy on prostate disease in church men’s fellowships, corporate institutions, men clubs and schools.  The charity also educates and research in prostate diseases in Ghana and organizes extensive free prostate screening in the country. 

In fact, prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer among  black men and Prostate cancer often is considered an “old man’s disease,” but Dr. Nyarkotey demystify that myth and said the  young man’s prostate gland is also not free from prostate cancer and it is simple, if you are a man you are at risk. The president must declare fathers day as prostate cancer so that the day will be use to encourage prostate cancer screening and awareness. 

“We know developing campaigns takes time, so it’s not too early. Our hope is that the message gets to the president early so that we all join forces that will make a difference by raising awareness and, most importantly, by saving live. There is blight upon our country. It’s called prostate cancer and that is why we urge you to lead us out of this valley of death and despair he said”

As part of the charity vision to raise awareness to drastically curb the rise of prostate disease in Ghana by 2025 the charity has declared Zero Prostate Cancer project in Ghana - Transforming the future of Prostate Cancer and in order to achieve this vision the charity have outlined the following goals are to be met before 2025; Significantly more men will survive Prostate Cancer, about 80% of the affected through the education and awareness created by Men’s Health Foundation, Society will understand the key facts about prostate cancer in Ghana and will act on that knowledge, Ghanaian men and women will know more about Prostate Cancer and will act on that knowledge.

The women will also understand the need to stand by their men, Inequalities in access to high quality prostate cancer services will be totally reduced and People affected by prostate cancer will have their information and support needs addressed effectively through the introduction of the Cancer Psychology services. The Dodowa based Men’s Health Foundation aims to fight prostate cancer on every front Dr. Nyarkotey Stated and waiting on the president for their appeal.