Men Over 40 Years to Benefit from Free Health Screening

Men over 40 years in the parish of St. Catherine will benefit from free health screening at the St. Catherine Health Department in Spanish Town, on September 13.

The activity will commence at 9:00 a.m. and last until 4:00 p.m., with services such as prostate screening, blood pressure checks, and immunisation for persons who work in high-risk environments.

The event is being staged to commemorate Caribbean Wellness Day.

Parish Health Promotion and Education Officer for St. Catherine, Marcia Stephenson, told JIS News that the focus on men over 40 years of age is important because September is being observed as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

“We will be having the men in a setting, offering health education and counselling. There will also be several games, such as domino playing,” she said.

Ms. Stephenson pointed out that males over 40 are the persons generally diagnosed with the illness (prostate cancer), and it is also the period when the prostate begins to get enlarged. “This is the recommended age for testing,” she added.

“So, early screening is necessary. We encourage our men to ensure that they are screened, and that will dictate what the doctor will recommend going forward. We are offering these services free of cost to our men over 40,” she said.

Caribbean Wellness Day, an initiative of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), is aimed at promoting a healthy way of life to combat the epidemic of chromic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in countries throughout the region.

It is observed on the second Saturday of September each year, and the overall theme for the period 2020-2024 is ‘Power Through Collective Action’.

All the events in the various countries promote mental wellness, and encourage persons to engage in healthy lifestyles, including being physically active, practice healthy eating, and getting regular health checks.