The Lifegate Prostate Care Foundation (LPCF) has pledged to reduce the burden of prostate disease in Nigeria through sustained awareness campaigns, early detection, advocacy, and improved access to quality healthcare for men.
Speaking at the inauguration of the foundation in Uyo, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, High Chief Richard Okozi, said the organisation was established out of a commitment to ensure that no man dies or suffers unnecessarily from prostate disease due to ignorance, late diagnosis, or inadequate access to medical care.
According to Okozi, the foundation will pursue its objectives through public education, advocacy, free screening programmes, professional collaboration, patient support, research, and community engagement.
He stressed that tackling prostate disease requires the collective efforts of government institutions, healthcare professionals, development partners, corporate organisations, traditional and religious institutions, the media, and the general public.
“Our vision is to ensure that every man has access to timely information and quality prostate healthcare, thereby reducing preventable deaths associated with prostate disease,” he said.
Also speaking, the Foundation’s Secretary, Dr. Ita Udosen, said LPCF was established to create awareness about prostate health and promote the well-being of men across communities in Akwa Ibom State and the country.
He described prostate disease as a growing public health challenge that has claimed the lives of many men, including those in their most productive years, leaving families devastated and creating avoidable social and economic hardships.
Udosen noted that many cases become fatal because of late detection, delayed diagnosis, poor access to treatment, and widespread ignorance about the disease. He lamented that misconceptions surrounding prostate disease remain prevalent, with some people attributing the condition to witchcraft or spiritual attacks rather than recognising it as a medical condition that can be detected early and treated effectively.
He urged men, particularly those aged 40 years and above, to undergo regular medical screening and seek prompt medical attention whenever they notice symptoms associated with prostate disorders.
A community leader, Mr. Udeme Akpan, commended the foundation for enlightening members of the public on prostate health. Akpan admitted that many men were previously unaware of the warning signs and risk factors associated with prostate disease, pledging to share the knowledge gained with people in rural communities to encourage early screening and treatment.