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La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal Health Directorate, MP launch M4H campaign
The La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal Health Directorate in collaboration with the Office of the Member of Parliament , Mr Francis Xavier Sosu, has launched the Men for Health (M4H) campaign.
The campaign launched on Tuesday, seeks to raise awareness about men’s health issues, and encourage regular medical check-ups and break the stigma surrounding men seeking healthcare services.
Also, the initiative will educate men on health issues such as prostate cancer, hypertension, diabetes and mental health.
Speaking at the event, the La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal Director of Health, Dr Efua Commeh, mentioned that, the campaign which will end in December would have all health facilities in the municipality continue with regular screenings for prostate cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and other common conditions affecting men.
Dr Commeh stated that the Chief Psychiatrist will run a mental health clinic twice a month at Rawlings Circle to make mental health support more accessible.
“Specialist services are also being made more available, with an urologist scheduled to visit monthly,” she said emphasising that the clinics will operate consistently across La Nkwantanang and Madina to ensure continuous access to healthcare for men.
She also indicated that beyond facility-based care, the health directorate will extend its efforts through community-level outreach including Madina market, the National Fire Service, and other key locations.
She encouraged institutions to invite the health team for on-site screenings, adding that “once any health issue is detected, we have specialists ready to provide the necessary support.”
As part of the broader health education strategy, teams will also be visiting churches and mosques to engage congregations on men’s health issues, aiming to break the silence and stigma around conditions that often go undiagnosed in men.
A urologist at the University of Cape Coast Hospital, Prof. Dr Patrick Maison, urged men to prioritise prostate health and undergo regular screenings, stressing that prostate cancer is curable when detected early.
According to Dr Maison, although prostate enlargement is normal after age 40, about one in 10 men may experience difficulty in urine flow due to inward growth of the gland.
He stated that prostate cancer often develops silently from age 50, showing no symptoms until it has progressed significantly—usually around a man’s mid-60s by which time treatment becomes more difficult.
“Our best chance of curing prostate cancer is to detect it early, before it starts causing symptoms,” he said, adding that a simple blood test and examination can reveal early signs, making regular screening crucial even for men who feel well.
Prof. Dr Maison advised that men with no family history of the disease should start screening annually from age 50, while those with a family history should begin from age 40.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu