Jibril Abdu.
Seventy Community Health Extension Workers, CHEWs, from thirty-five Primary Healthcare Centres in Kaduna State have been trained on prostate cancer awareness, early detection and timely referral of suspected cases.
The initiative by the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, ABUTH, Zaria, is aimed at taking prostate cancer awareness closer to communities through primary healthcare facilities, where frontline health workers can provide basic health information and link residents with appropriate medical services.
The participants were drawn from Giwa, Sabon Gari and Zaria Local Government Areas of the state.
The one-day training focused on equipping the health workers with skills to identify men at risk of prostate cancer, recognise warning signs, encourage early medical attention and facilitate timely referral of suspected cases.
The programme was organised in collaboration with the African Research Group for Oncology, ARGO NCAT Scholars, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, MSKCC, and ONCOCLINICS.
Speaking on the initiative, Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Oncologist, Dr. Shehu Salisu Umar, said the participants are expected to use the knowledge acquired to educate members of their communities, encourage early hospital attendance and strengthen referral systems for suspected cases.
Also speaking, Dr. Musliu Tolani stressed the need for sustained public awareness on prostate cancer, particularly among ageing men and those at higher risk.
He noted that symptoms such as blood in the urine, difficulty in urination, obstruction of the urinary passage and other unusual urinary changes should not be ignored, but require prompt medical assessment.
Some participants expressed confidence that the training would enhance their ability to educate rural communities on prostate cancer risks and encourage men to seek medical attention early.
