26 Jun 2023

 Men from ages 40 are advised to undergo a semi-regular prostate examination and also seek medical attention when affected.

Addressing Ntlo Ya Dikgosi meeting recently, National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA) coordinator, Mr Ontiretse Letlhare said prostate cancer was one of the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) that killed men in large numbers, not only in Botswana but globally.

Mr Letlhare regretted that men however had poor health seeking behaviours and as such put their lives at risk.

“Regular screening for prostate cancer can save lives of many men, particularly those over the age of 40 years given that they are the most at risk. It is important to get annual tests and get treatment,” he said.He said  most of the men retreated from seeking help when affected given that prostate cancer was found in secluded parts of their bodies.

“Men do not want to be assessed in those areas,” he said.

He added that medical research had proven that the tumor growth could be monitored and treated early.“The tumor produces a liquid substance that could be detected through running blood tests and the disease can also be treated when detected early,” he added.

UNAIDS country director, Mr Alankar Malviya said men were not also enrolling on HIV treatment hence the Nanogang Campaign which targeted them.

“The norm that men have to be strong leads to poor health seeking behaviours and put their lives and those of their families in danger,” Mr Malviya said.

He said more women had their viral load suppressed because they tested and got treatment.

That, Mr Malviya said had resulted in less death rates in women as compared to their male counterparts.“Botswana has been leading the response and has great achievement. We continue to push the campaign with the leadership of Dikgosi. We are also documenting the leadership of Dikgosi and their engagement and we are working to make Botswana HIV free by the year 2030,” he said. ENDS