The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), in an effort to promote prostate cancer screening and raise awareness of the disease, through a multi-agency collaboration, will be distributing vouchers to 150 underprivileged males to access screening and consultation services.
Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between GTT and the Men’s Health Unit, several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), cancer foundations and several GTT Pinktober sponsors on Friday, 150 vouchers were dispersed to be further distributed to men over 40 years who meet specific criteria.
The vouchers were handed to the Guyana Cancer Foundation, the Giving Hope Foundation, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Cancer Society of Linden and Berbice, Impressions, Republic Bank Guyana, Mix FM and ANSA McAl, among others.
According to GTT, they are to be given to men over 40 years old who otherwise would not have been able to afford access to the procedure. Use of the voucher covers a free Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening and a consultation with the doctor.
“Those who will benefit from these vouchers will be identified by the various NGOs, cancer foundations, sponsors and the men’s health unit. However, we are hoping that men like security guards, bus and taxi drivers, labourers and administrative staff who are unable to afford the PSA test will be the ones reaching out for these vouchers; especially if they have a family history of cancer,” Diana Gittens, GTT’s Health and Wellness Business Partner said.
She related that the consultation option is included because it is believed that many men are reluctant to visit doctors.
“This provides the opportunity to request information and share about other health conditions they may be experiencing. GTT cares and we think that the best gift we can give to our fathers, especially our indigent fathers is the access to health care,” she stated.
According to the release, Founder of the Giving Hope Foundation, Dr. Latoya Gooding, commended GTT for executing such an initiative, since she believes many males are at risk of getting prostate cancer. “I have seen many males die due to prostate cancer. This initiative is trying to prevent prostate cancer especially if they detect it early, they can start treatment early,” she stated.
A similar sentiment was shared by President of the Periwinkle Cancer Club in Guyana, Andrea Joseph, who stated, “I applaud GTT for doing this because it gives men the opportunity to do the screening, given prostate cancer is on the rise. Men do not pay enough attention to their health the way women do, so I hope this initiative will bring more awareness to the condition to all men across Guyana.”
The release said that men are encouraged to reach out to the aforementioned organisations to determine if they are eligible to obtain one of the vouchers.
Furthermore, Gittens urged all Guyanese men to do prostate cancer screening, since early intervention can save lives.
