The Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Lands and Mineral Resources, Faiyaz Koya has joined efforts to foster better awareness on prostate cancer, by opting to raise $5000 towards the national Movember Campaign.
And he has agreed to shave off his moustache if this target is achieved by his ministerial staff.
“Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men over 50, and the risk increases with age,” he said while launching the Ministry for Lands’ Movember Campaign, adding that about one in seven men would be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.
“In Fiji, more than 20 prostate cancer cases are recorded each year. These cases could be prevented through regular screening, early detection and treatment. Prostate cancer can be a serious disease but most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. In fact, more than 2.9 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today.”
Koya noted that with detailed statistics and analysis on the disease readily available, and the development of every-more effective diagnostic tools and innovative new treatment, they’d be able to get the upper hand against prostate cancer.
“However, early detection remains the key. That is why initiatives and programs on screening are so important. Therefore, in a big way, let us make this campaign the avenue for dialogue and public awareness to save men’s lives especially those already affected by the disease. But we still have much to do to match the courage of the Movember program and to live-up to its vision of the day when all men are appropriately screened and when prostate cancer is defeated, once and for all.”
Koya stressed Government efforts towards the campaign, and called for collective action.
“In fact, as long as there is a reason to wear blue, there should be a reason to take action to raise awareness about this emerging health catastrophe that threatens our country.
It is therefore the obligation of every men, every woman, every young boy and every well-meaning Fijian to raise awareness about this disease and hopefully one day, we’ll find a cure. We can see the finishing line on the horizon and hand in hand, we will cross it.”
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