More screened at this year’s St Ann-St Mary Men’s Health Fair

The number of men screened at the annual Jamaica Cancer Society’s St Ann-St Mary Branch’s Men’s Health Fair, held in collaboration with the North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA), continues to rise.

During the recent health fair at Turtle River Park in Ocho Rios, St Ann, 352 men were screened from more than 400 who were registered at the event, according to Branch Manager Daidrey DaSilva.

“We had less doctors than last year; we didn’t have enough doctors,” she said, in explaining why so many persons were left out.

However, the 352 screening shows the continuation of an upward trend since the health fair started in 2022.

That year, 162 men were screened, from an attendance of 189; in 2023, 251 were screened, from among the 295 in attendance; and last year, 317 men were screened from a record 410 attendees.

DaSilva was extremely grateful for the support from sponsors, especially Cari-Med, which sponsored the event to the amount of $1 million.

“Thanks to our main sponsors, Cari-Med Group. Thanks to our doctors, sponsors, volunteers. We want to thank them for the support, as without them it cannot be done,” DaSilva said.

The men’s health fair targeted men over 40 years old and offered several tests for free, including Prostate Screening EpiSwitch and Digital Rectal Examination screenings, blood sugar, HIV, blood pressure, and cholesterol, among others. Persons are being reminded that early detection is key in overcoming cancer.

Cancer continues to be of great concern in Jamaica, especially as it relates to prostate cancer in men, breast cancer in women, and colorectal cancer in both sexes.

Figures show that there were 7,500 new cases in 2022, while there were 4,632 reported deaths.

A breakdown of the new cases by type shows prostate, 1,599; breast, 1,327; colorectal, 793; lung- 545; corpus uteri, 494; and others, 2,742. ‘Others’ refer to any of the more than 100 known cancers.

Carl Gilchrist