SINT MAARTEN (CAY HILL) – The Positive and Elektralyets Foundation have partnered with the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) to launch a Man UP & Check UP Prostate Awareness Campaign on St. Maarten.
The objective of the campaign is to break the taboo of Prostate Cancer on the island, educate and encourage men to talk of this disease with their health care providers and with other men in our community.
The campaign includes registration drives, information sessions, screening at the St. Maarten Medical Center for registered participants. Furthermore, there are public service announcements on local radio stations, radio and TV interviews, posters, banners and social media campaigns, t-shirts and electronic billboards awareness messaging.
The first registration drive is scheduled for September 14, 2019 at the Napa Auto Parts in Colebay, St. Maarten from 10 am – 2pm. Members of the St. Maarten Medical Center along with the Positive and Elektralytes Foundation are encouraging men between that ages for 45 – 70 who have never done a PSA test to register during this event. The SMMC has agreed to contribute the expertise to review the results of the PSA, a free consultation and perform a freeultra sound if necessary. However, the PSA test will have to be paid for at the lab or covered by insurance.
The next registration drive is scheduled for September 21, 2019 at Kooyman on the AJC Brouwers Road, St. Maarten from 10am -2pm.
On September 22 at 7PM, the Christian Faith Ministries International Church in Dutch Quarter with be the host of a Man UP & Check UP Prostate Cancer Awareness Information session with guest speakers Dr. Ramos of the St. Maarten Medical Center and Dr. Rojas who will talk about erectile dysfunction. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend this free event.
On September 28, 2019 SMMC with review the PSA results of the registered participants during a free consultation and perform an ultrasound if necessary.
Prostate cancer survivor Mr. Michael Ferrier and prostate cancer warrior Mr. Raymond Benjamin have graciously agreed to be the spokes persons for the Man Up & Check Up campaign. Mr. Benjamin along with Dr. Rojas candidly shared their personal and professional experiences on Speaking of Everything with Oral Gibbes earlier in September. Mr. Ferrier has agreed to be the voice for the prostate cancer awareness public service announcements heard daily on local radio stations. Both Mr. Benjamin and Mr. Ferrier are anxious to join the conversation to spread to message of prostate cancer – especially the importance of early detection.
Other contributors to the Man UP & Check UP campaign include Mr. Elvis Harrigan from Picture This Studio, Tashin Brown from International Liquors and Tobacco, Vita Malt and Ms. Francine Chance for the Fiji Water, NAPA Auto Parts and Kooyman, Speaking of Everything, local radio stations on St. Maarten and Viva Signs who are all excited about the campaign and its call to action for men on our island to help save lives through early detection.
Internationally, September is observed as prostate cancer awareness month with the light blue ribbon as the symbol. This September, The Positive and Elektralytes Foundations would like to get the men in our lives to talk about the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test with their doctor and make an informed decision about the best testing approach. “This September let’sturn awareness into action. Early detection is the key to saving lives through screenings like the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) and the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) which helps to identify prostate cancer in its earliest stages” concluded Shelly Alphonso and Mercedes “Eelektra” van de Waals-Wyatt, Presidents of the two foundations.
Source: Souliga Newsday https://www.soualiganewsday.com/index.php?option=com-k2&view=item&id=27319:man-up-check-up-prostate-awareness-campaign-underway&Itemid=450
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