Don’t Ignore the Warning Signs: NGO Urges Nigerian Men to Embrace Regular Prostate Screening

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Body Without Spot (BWS), has urged Nigerian men to prioritise regular Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening to ensure early detection and effective treatment of prostate cancer, one of the leading cancers affecting men of African descent.

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The Founder and Convener of BWS, Emeritus Prof. Ifeoma Okoye, made the call during a prostate health awareness programme held on Sunday in partnership with the Enugu Sports Club.

Prof. Okoye expressed concern that many men continue to delay or avoid screening, often choosing to “manage” symptoms at home until the disease progresses to advanced stages where treatment becomes complicated, more expensive, and survival chances significantly reduced. She warned that choosing not to screen has become a deadly decision, lamenting the low awareness and the culture of silence surrounding male reproductive health.

She explained that the event marked the debut of BWS’s flagship prostate health initiative in the South-East, strategically hosted at the Enugu Sports Club, a hub for influential men in business, politics, culture, and community leadership. Formerly known as Breast Without Spot, the organisation has since 2008 focused on cancer prevention, early detection, and advocacy, working with global research institutions such as Stanford University, Mayo Clinic, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Johns Hopkins University. She added that the goal is to envision a South-East where men from 40 upwards know their PSA levels as routinely as they know their blood pressure.

The prostate, a walnut-sized gland located below the bladder and around the urethra, produces prostatic fluid, an essential component of semen. Consultant urologists from the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, emphasised that early-stage prostate cancer often presents no symptoms, making regular screening vital. Dr. Chinweuba Odimba outlined warning signs such as frequent urination, weak or interrupted urine flow, difficulty starting or stopping urination, burning sensation, and the feeling of incomplete bladder emptying. He stressed that early detection through PSA testing improves survival rates and reduces complications.

A consultant clinical oncologist, Dr. Vitalis Okwor, advised men aged 40 to 50 to undergo PSA screening at least once or twice a year, noting that early detection remains the most effective tool in combating prostate cancer.

Leaders and government officials also backed the advocacy. The event chairman and former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, urged men to overcome cultural barriers and silence surrounding prostate health, noting that increased awareness and proactive screening could save countless lives. The Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said the initiative aligns with the government’s efforts to strengthen healthcare services and highlighted the need to reduce the cost of screening and treatment for broader access. Chairman of Enugu Sports Club, Mr. Ifeanyi Nweke, pledged continued support for BWS and called on government agencies and private health providers to make prostate care more affordable.

The event concluded with a renewed call for men to prioritise their health through regular PSA checks, early medical consultation, and active community awareness to prevent needless deaths from a largely preventable and treatable disease.