Guardian and NCB support Cancer Society in prostate cancer fight

Three corporate entities - the Guardian Group Foundation, Guardian Life Limited and the National Commercial Bank (NCB) - committed a total of $3 million towards increasing public education and the provision of free screening for prostate cancer among Jamaican men.

September was observed as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Eric Hosin, president of Guardian Life Limited, explained that prostate cancer continues to be the leading cause of death by cancer in our society, yet Jamaican men are still afraid to undergo this very easy and important test.

"As one of the leading providers of health and life insurance in Jamaica, we believe it is crucial to support this initiative that can ultimately help to reduce and prevent the incidence of prostate cancer among our men. We therefore encourage our men to make use of this opportunity before it is too late," Hosin said.

Christopher Vendrys, sales manager, NCB Insurance Limited, also encouraged men, especially those deemed high-risk, to arm themselves with information and get tested.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of the Jamaica Cancer Society, Yulit Gordon, executive director, said they were heartened by the support of the Guardian Group Foundation, Guardian Life Limited, and the National Commercial Bank.

"With your support, we will be increasing the level of public awareness and education about prostate cancer; achieve greater compliance in our screening clinics across the island, which will hopefully reduce the number of premature deaths through early detection and finally, establish a national male support group for those faced with prostate cancer," Gordon said.

The Jamaica Cancer Society planned a series of events in support of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, which included medical and public symposiums in Kingston and Montego Bay and free screening in Kingston, Ocho Rios, Mandeville and Montego Bay.