In 2022, the world recorded 1,467,854 new prostate cancer cases, making prostate cancer the 4th most common cancer worldwide.
In Ghana, it is one of the top two reported cancers affecting men, particularly those aged 40 years and above.
To address this phenomenon, the Deputy Minister for Health, Madam Adelaide Ntim, has called for intensified education on prostate cancer to dispel myths and misconceptions and provide accurate information about risk factors, symptoms and the importance of early screening.
The Deputy Minister, who was speaking at a national prostate cancer dialogue under the theme “Bridging the Gap in Prostate Cancer Care,” commended Ghana’s international partners for initiating the “piloting prostate cancer intervention” project in Accra, stressing that the initiative is designed to raise awareness, promote early detection and develop strategic policy recommendations to improve prostate cancer care in Ghana.
The dialogue was organised by the Ministry of Health, Bayer Pharmaceuticals and the German Development Cooperation (GiZ).
The Director-General of Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye, said the NHIS benefit package has been expanded to include wellness services, childhood cancers and prostate cancer.
“This is in addition to the introduction of the yearly adult screening programme by the NHIA, providing opportunities for adults in Ghana to be screened in their birth months,” he added.
The Technical Advisor of the Minister of Health, Dr Dirus Osei, said tackling prostate cancer is essential for achieving the objectives of the Non-Communicable Diseases strategy and contributing to Ghana’s broader goal of attaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030
“By addressing the risk factors and improving public health awareness, we can significantly reduce the burden of prostate cancer and improve health outcomes for men across the country,” he noted.
Source: ModernGhana
