Director-General (D-G) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has urged Nigerian men to ensure frequent screening for Prostate Cancer, stressing that early detection is key in tackling fatalities from this blight.
The Director-General made this known at a novelty football match organised by the Agency to commence an awareness campaign against Prostate Cancer at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos in celebration of the World Cancer Day.
Speaking shortly before the event started, the D-G noted that the Agency has decided to key into the goal of modern medicine to defeat the fear of seeing cancer as death sentence and encourage male staff and Nigerian men in general to take the advice of early detection seriously considering the fact that prostate cancer is a silent killer in men.
“The aim of this exercise is to arm ourselves with the weapon to guarantee us a better chance of fighting cancer.
He further said that “it is for this reason that on the occasion of the World Cancer Day, the management of the agency had approved the collaboration of our Health Services unit to partner with Clinics, Laboratories to screen interested staff for prostate cancer to protect us from such fatalities through early detection and therefore the hope that all staff will use this opportunity to examine their status” Dr. Dakuku said.
While noting that the Agency’s health advocacy is part of its corporate social responsibility actions, Dr Dakuku announced free examination for prostate cancer for volunteers who are willing to be screened even if they aren’t at risk. The agency also offered to give out referral papers to interested volunteers.
“Our mission is to ensure NIMASA staff and Nigerians in general are aware that with adequate education and early detection, this generation can conquer prostate cancer. NIMASA is on a mission to make sure it fight the menace of prostate cancer to finish with early detection,” Peterside said.
The Agency has commenced free test for all staff and interested stakeholders as part of effort to encourage early detection.
The NIMASA campaign against prostate cancer is part of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to support the world Cancer Declaration of 2008.
It should also be noted that the primary goal of the World Cancer Day is to significantly reduce illness and death caused by cancer by 2020.
As part of activities to mark the event, the Agency organized a novelty march at the Astro Turf arena of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos; an event, Dr. Peterside and other Executive Management and staff of the Agency attended the occasion, tagged; “Kick against prostate cancer”.
