By Rukayat Moisemhe

Waka Community International Foundation and Novo Health Africa on Saturday emphasised the importance of improving awareness and building better consciousness on male reproductive health concerns.

These concerns, according to Mr Lorenz Mba, Founder, Waka Community International Foundation, include breast, prostrate and testicular cancers and erectile dysfunction.

Mba made the call at the foundation’s event with theme:” Waka for Men’s Health- Breast, Prostrate and Testicular Cancer,” in Lagos.

He noted that many men died from these diseases because of their inability to speak up or lack of understanding of early detection.

This, he said, necessitated the walk event.

He noted that prostate cancer; a genetic disease, common to men from 40 years, was the second leading cause of cancer death among men of colour.

He said testicular cancer and prostate cancer were both types of cancer that affect the male reproductive system.

Mba, however, said that they differ in some ways with testicular cancer easier to identify via self-examination.

He stated that men’s health was often not talked about due to cultural issues and more, meanwhile fathers, brothers, sons, friends and associates were dying in silence and from preventable causes.

“It is the need to change this narrative that these complications are both physical and mental.

“As part of bringing the issue of men’s health to the front burner, we are organising two talks by medical experts and two Wakathons in Lagos and in Jos respectively on Nov. 16 and 23.

“Research has shown that keeping fit, staying healthy and exercising helps even when patients are fighting some cancers such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer.

“Let us stop being silent when people are dying from preventable causes such as prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

“Do not stay silent; do it for yourself and for those you care about and remember, it’s OK not to be OK,” he said.

Dr Dorothy Jeff-Nnamani, the Managing Director, Novo Health Africa, stated the importance of creating awareness on preventive healthcare for men.

Jeff-Nnamani stressed that men from their 40’s must get annual medical checks for testicular, breast and prostrate cancers and engage in walks for life, fitness, emotional and mental well-being.

“You know, when we are younger, we are almost like invincible and at that young age, people feel they cannot get sick but the older you become, the more you have body, physiological and hormonal changes.

“So, it is important that men from 30 years should inculcate the habit of an annual medical check because these days we are seeing very young people have testicular cancer and testicular tumours.

“Things like Prostrate Specific Antigen (PSA) which helps to check whether that your prostrate is enlarge as a man is very important,” she said.

She also urged government to support the fitness drive of its citizens by providing better infrastructure and environment like security, sanitation and proper lightening of the road for people walking.

Also, retired Rear Admiral Chris Ezekobe, said while prostate cancer was a silent killer, its early detection was very key to saving lives and encouraged every man to go for the PSA tests annually.

Ezekobe noted the linkages between good health and exercise, saying it has been scientifically proven that the more you exercise, the less the likelihood of prostate cancer.

He urged the youthful population to engage in one form of sport or the other, depending on age and capacity to reduce susceptibility to many kinds of diseases.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Waka Community International Foundation is a not-for-profit wellness and health foundation that started three years ago in Nigeria.

The foundation with a primary objective to build a global community of leaner, fitter, healthier and ultimately happier people through walking, currently has over 55,000 members worldwide across 47 countries.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma