The Lagos Medical Laboratory Scientists have urged for a comprehensive approach towards addressing men’s health concerns, particularly in light of the increasing incidents of prostate disorders in Nigeria.
They expressed concern over the rising prevalence of conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer in the country.
According to Britannica, a prostatic disorder refers to any irregularities or illnesses affecting the prostate gland within the male reproductive system. These issues often arise when there is a decline in the production of the male hormone, androgen, leading to degeneration of the prostate.
During the 59th Annual Scientific Conference of the Association of Medical Lab Scientists of Nigeria, experts highlighted the necessity for a well-rounded strategy that combines medical interventions, lifestyle modifications, and preventive actions to tackle prostate health effectively.
Mr. Abioye Akanji, the Chairman of AMLSN, Lagos State Branch, raised concerns about the escalating rates of prostate-related pathologies observed in various healthcare facilities.
He emphasized that prostate cancer has been identified by the World Health Organisation as the primary cancer diagnosis among men and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men, with an expected annual incidence of around 299,010 cases.
“Among Nigerian men, it accounts for the most common and deadly cancer with about 16.3 to 32.8 deaths per 100,000 men, hence the need to escalate discussions on the topic,” he stated.
While Emphasizing the need for early diagnosis, Akanji said some of the key risk factors of the diseases are non-modifiable.
He highlighted, “The key risk factors like age, if somebody is ageing, it gets to a point the person begins to experience excessive urination and some other symptoms, but you can’t modify it because you can’t change your age.
“There are other key factors like family history but more importantly, if we know all these, we can begin to advocate that there is a need for men to carry out screening once a year to check for prostate. There’s a need to do some other health checks because early presentation of any disease condition and treatment increases the likelihood of survival.”
He elaborated to get a definitive diagnosis for any disease condition there must be a multidisciplinary approach because one health care provider alone cannot solve the whole problem.
The lab scientist noted, “In recent times, we found out that among men, prostate disorders, be it prostate cancer, prostatitis and some other prostate disorder have been a devil that has befallen men and we also found out that it is beginning to be very alarming in our various hospitals lately. So, that stimulates our thoughts that there’s a need for us to escalate this topic.
“In the past, it used to be for older men but now, we found out that as young as a 40-year-old man will wake up in the night to pee more than 15-20 times and this calls for concern and from there, other issues start creeping in.”
The chairman of AMLSN expressed alarm over the high rate of medical lab scientists leaving the country, particularly in Lagos, where at least 40% (2 out of 5) have emigrated, depleting the workforce to a critical level, a phenomenon known as the “japa syndrome”.
“Even in the private sector, people are still leaving. You employ them this month, and the following month they are gone. It is affecting the private sector and the public sector in recent times,” he expressed.
In his keynote address, “Holistic Approach to Prostate Disorders: Integrating Multidisciplinary Strategies for Precision Diagnosis,”
Dr. Rufus Ojewola, Associate Professor at the University of Lagos’ College of Medicine and Consultant Urological Surgeon at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, emphasized the importance of a scientific approach and accurate diagnosis in medical practice.
He highlighted the complexities of prostatic disease in the Nigerian context, citing a study that revealed a staggering 48.6% of men with symptoms of prostatic disease had never sought medical attention at any hospital or health facility.
