By Astha Prendergast

Copyright jis

Some 200 men in Westmoreland turned out on September 25 for free prostate cancer screening hosted by the Misty Blue Cancer Care Foundation at Independence Park in Savanna-la-Mar, commemorating the organisation’s 10th anniversary of delivering health services in the parish.

Participants lauded the initiative for providing accessible testing and raising awareness about early detection.

Norman Cole, a semi-retired resident of Negril, Westmoreland, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the service.

“The cost saving is excellent… we saved at least $60,000. The thing I do like as well, is that they do the test extensively. There’s the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test, you [can also] do the finger test, and when the results are in, they’ll call and let you know. If there’s anything that looks funny, they immediately contact you. I’m happy to be here each year, and I recommend it to everyone,” he told JIS News.

For individuals like Victor Sangster of Chantilly Gardens, the event offers vital reassurance in communities where screening access remains limited.

“I think it’s very important, because many friends I have in Westmoreland died as a result of prostate cancer. The reason why is that they did not get tested early enough. Many in Jamaica are afraid of the finger test. But the PSA can be done if they don’t want to do the insertion of the finger,” he stated.

Another participant, Joshua Grey, commended the staff’s helpfulness and the thoroughness of the services provided.

“I did the blood pressure and sugar checks, and the people were very helpful and kind,” he said.

Founder and Chair of the Foundation, Dorothy Satchwell, said the initiative reflects the organisation’s broader commitment to advancing community health.

“We started back in 2015. The Foundation evolved out of my cancer experience, and the fact that I’m from Westmoreland. Every year, except [during the COVID-19 pandemic], we hold parish screenings for prostate cancer. This year, our target was to screen 150 males. We also partner with agencies such as the Westmoreland Health Department, Sandals Foundation, American Friends of Jamaica [among other organisations] to provide a comprehensive approach to health,” she told JIS News.

Health Promotion and Education Officer for Westmoreland, Gerald Miller, commended the men who participated and underscored the critical role of early detection in cancer prevention.

“We have observed that there is keen interest in men having their digital rectal exams (DRE) and PSA tests, which is encouraging. Many men tend to be skeptical about doing the DRE… so we ensure that female doctors undertake this activity. The free blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI (body mass index) checks, and ECGs (electrocardiograms) also support better health-seeking behaviours and help prevent complications from late diagnoses,” he said.

The day’s proceedings also featured educational support, offering guidance on follow-up care for high-risk individuals and underscoring the importance of holistic health checks.

The organisers emphasised that initiatives like these are vital in advancing early detection and improving health outcomes for men across Westmoreland.