Kunle Adelabu
A professor of Clinical Biochemistry from the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Prof. Solomon Rotimi has said that the Prostate Cancer screening exercise embarked upon by the Igbogbo community is a very good step towards reducing the incidents of cancers in Ikorodu Division.
The Professor, who is one of the Principal Investigators of Inclusive Cancer Care Research Equity (iCCaRE) for Black Men Consortium, funded by the US Department of Defence, revealed that according to the Journal of Clinical Oncology Global Oncology, Ikorodu has the highest number of cancer cases in the state.
The exercise was organized by the Igbogbo Day Health Sub – Committee of the Igbogbo Day Planning Committee 2022 in partnership with Inclusive Cancer Care Research Equity (iCCaRE) for Black Men Consortium, as part of the activities commemorating 2022 Igbogbo Day Celebrations.
Over 200 men from 40 years and above, benefitted from the two – day prostate cancer screening exercise and others which included blood sugar, blood pressure, height and weight check.
Prof. Solomon spoke at the medical outreach which was also attended by His Royal Majesty Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo and His Royal Majesty, Oba Taiwo Taiwo, the Onipara of Ipara.
At the event which was held at the Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Secretariat hall, on Saturday. November 12, 2022, the university don emphasized the importance of the screening and the need for more awareness to combat the disease.
“What we are doing here is to provide cancer screening for many people in Ikorodu, particularly Igbogbo community. This expresses the name of our consortium which is iCCaRE for Black Men”, Prof. Solomon told THE IMPACT.
“Prostate cancer is a disease that predominantly affects black men. One, you have to be a man to have the organ called prostate. The other important factor is being a black man. The reason is that this disease affects the black men more than white men. More so, black men tend to develop the aggressive type of this disease. Once the disease is developed, it’s usually very terrible.
“We are providing this screening to detect (prostate cancer) early and it’s only when you detect it early that doctors can treat the disease”.
He revealed that Ikorodu has the highest number of cancer incidents in the state going by report in a medical journal which accounts for reported cases in the last ten years.
While commending the full community support for the project, the Professor of Clinical Biochemistry, also pledged that his organization will make the screening an annual exercise in Igbogbo.
“One important thing that we should know about Ikorodu is that a publication came out last month that clearly show that in the last ten years, Ikorodu Local Government has the highest cancer incidents. With that kind of statistics, we need to look at how to address it and so; we believe that what we are doing is a direct contribution to the solution of the problem”, Prof. Solomon said.
“We are also creating awareness and we could see that we have the full support of Onigbogbo (Adeboruwa of Igbogbo) and we are also excited that he has another royal visitor from Ipara and so what a better way to have the support of the community.
“It’s a thing that we are excited about because there is full community participation and it is integrated as part of the activities for the Igbogbo week. We appreciate the support of everybody and we look forward to doing it every year”, he promised.
Speaking further on the journal, Prof. Solomon said that the outcome of the screening will be communicated to the appropriate quarters so as to know ways of preventing the deadly disease.
“The journal was published by authors, including the Ministry of Health, Lagos State, and when you look at the paper, Alimosho has the largest number (of cancer), but when you normalize by a million population, Ikorodu has the highest number of cancer in the past 10 years”, he said.
“Whatever that we found out (from the test) and that we think is the risk factor, will be communicated through the appropriate authority – the Local Council Development Authority and the palace and also the Community Development Association (CDAs).
“The advice generally for cancer is to screen and screen. The early we can detect it, the better it can be treated. There are enough evidences to show that lifestyle of people also increases the risk of prostate. So, whatever that we see (from the tests), we will be able to use it in advising the community on ways to prevent prostate cancer”, Prof. Solomon said.
The Chairman, Igbogbo Day Health Sub – Committee of the Igbogbo Day Planning Committee 2022, Dr. Andu Abdul – Fatai Ademola, also speaking, said that the exercise was designed to screen for early detection of prostate cancer for timely treatment.
“The purpose of this is to screen for prostate cancer and detect early if there is any prostate cancer or any other disease that affect the prostrate because prevention is better than cure and also early diagnosis is better in the management of any disease and that is the reason why we take it upon ourselves this year”, he said.
“The exercise is very fantastic. The outcome has been so nice; the turnout is very high and people have been coming out to do the screening. We are not only screening for prostate alone, but also doing hemoglobin to check for diabetes. We are also doing liquid profile to check for cholesterol. Through this, we will know whether cholesterol is high or not.
“We are also doing Digital Rectal examination to check the prostrate. We have about three Urologist present and also laboratory scientists that are taking samples for Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA).
He mentioned that other medical tests were conducted for residents that attended the exercise.
“Aside the prostate, we are also checking their blood sugar, blood pressure, height and weight, to know whether they are increasing or not. We detected people that have high blood pressure and they have been referred to the hospital. The screening is very comprehensive”, Dr Andu said.
Dr Andu said that the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo has assured that the exercise will be an annual event and that the community is ready to provide land for research centre for the iCCaRE Consortium.
“Yes, it is going to be an annual exercise. During our courtesy visit to the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, he said that Igbogbo Kingdom will make the exercise an annual exercise event, in partnership with iCCaRE Consortium.
“Kabiyesi also said that the Igbogbo community is willing to provide land and host a research centre if the foundation is ready to have it so as to assist our community in reducing the menace of the prostate diseases, especially prostate cancer”, Dr Andu said.
He thanked the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo and the Executive Chairman of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Builder Sesan Daini, for the support towards the success of the exercise.
Many of the beneficiaries at the venue thanked the Igbogbo Day Committee for bringing the programme which they said gave them free access to important medical tests.
