Trinidad and Tobago: Ministry of National Service to offer free Prostate Cancer screening for men

The Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Youth Development and National Service is introducing a critical health project for men, carrying out free prostate cancer check-ups on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at several centers in the country for men who are 45 years old and above.

This particular effort is significant as it addresses the issue at hand, aiming at early diagnosis to be a crucial weapon against prostate cancer, one of the most common types of cancer to afflict men.

This disease most commonly spreads unnoticed and therefore screening is important. The Ministry is using Point of Care PSA testing kits for this event, and all these are newly developed to give same day results in just 10 minutes.

This enhanced medical testing means that men can avail the facility of screening easily and quickly, and after getting the results, can consult their physicians in case they need to do so. The screenings will be available at four accessible locations across Trinidad and Tobago:

• Long Circular Mall: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• Trincity Mall: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• South Park Mall: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Sangre Grande Enhanced Health Centre: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

The Ministry agreed on the organization of such check-up centers at the shopping mall, as these are the places where many people pass by, so that men could easily include this in their list of the necessary Sunday activities. The extended operation will also benefit those with tight schedules, hence, providing the solution of additional hours at Trincity Mall.

This is part of a bigger attempt by the Ministry to reach out to public health matters and install wellness among the population focusing on men’s health specifically. Prostate cancer can be entirely healed if detected in its early stages.

The Ministry has made its focus on men above the age of 45 years in the guidance of medical standards. This is because, at this age, many men tend to have a high chance of suffering cancer from the prostate glands.

The Ministry of Youth Development and National Service, through its outreach programs, is effectively informing people and raising awareness, and emphasizing routine health checks. This serves as a reminder for people to take responsibility for their health, especially in a society where most men do not take their routine medical check-ups seriously.

This free screening event not only provides an essential health service to the attendees but also raises awareness of the menace of prostate cancer and the critical need for early detection.