Hundreds Screened in Montego Bay Under Prostate Cancer Awareness Day Health Initiative

Nearly 300 individuals benefitted from vital health services delivered under a multistakeholder initiative at the St. James Parish Church Hall in Montego Bay on September 26, in observance of Prostate Cancer Awareness Day.

The event was staged through a strategic partnership involving the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS), primary sponsor – Guardian Group, and the National Health Fund (NHF), with additional support from the Cornwall Regional Hospital Support Group, Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), St. James Public Health Services, and the Lions International Voluntary Group.

It formed part of national activities marking September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, aimed at promoting early detection, public education, and community engagement around men’s health.

Male attendees were facilitated with free access to prostate cancer screenings, alongside a range of other medical procedures.

Participants also benefitted from HIV, syphilis, and cholesterol testing. By the close of the day, a total of 282 persons were served through the initiative.

Regional Priority Non-Communicable Disease and Family Health Coordinator with the WRHA, Marcia Johnson Campbell, noted that improvements in the processing period contributed significantly to client satisfaction.

“For the last three or four years, we’ve been here at the St. James Parish Church Hall, and the men keep coming… they just want to know what their status is. I think this year… we’ve done better in terms of the flow. So the people have got through in a shorter time than in previous years, and they are appreciative of the ability to get their tests done,” she said.

Among those who turned out was 65-year-old Emmett Jeffrey, a three-time participant in the initiative. He shared that his age was the primary indicator prompting him to seek regular check-ups.

Mr. Jeffrey further indicated that two of his close friends had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and faced significant treatment costs—an experience he hoped to avoid through early detection.

He urges other males to prioritise regular check-ups, emphasising that early screening can help avoid the agony and financial burden of a late-stage diagnosis.

“I have a good experience every year and my results remain good,” Mr. Jeffrey shared.

Lloyd Freeburn, who travelled from Westmoreland to access the screening services, shared similar sentiments. He noted that he has made the annual clinic part of his routine.

“The first checkup I got was with a private doctor. He said to me, ‘Your prostate is getting large, but you don’t have cancer’. Once he told me that, I kept on coming every year,” he said

For her part, Executive Director of the JCS, Yulit Gordon, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors, partners, and volunteers whose contributions made the initiative possible.

“We are delighted to raise awareness through this initiative of encouraging screening because we know, historically, men are culturally afraid of one aspect of the screening,” she said.

Meanwhile, Consultant Urologist at Cornwall Regional Hospital, Dr. Jeremy Thomas, commended the men who took the initiative to get screened, describing their participation as a proactive step toward safeguarding their health.

“More and more men are recognising the importance of their own health. I’d like to encourage other men out there to [pay attention] to that… over 1,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. Here in Jamaica, over 800 die every year,” he underscored.

“Remember, you’re not only living for yourself. You’re living for your loved ones, and they appreciate you, having you around and having you in good health,” Dr Thomas stated.