First Lady Christine Kaseba has urged the male fork in the country to get screened for prostate cancer.
Dr. Kaseba said prostate cancer was the most common killer disease among African men although the figures were much lower globally.
She said this was why President Michael Sata was keen to step up the fight against prostate cancer in the country.
The First Lady said although the number of men that were suffering from prostate cancer was not as high as those for women with cervical cancer, it was significant enough to warrant attention.
She was speaking at a daily briefing at Choma District Hospital during the ongoing mobile health outreach programme in the area.
Dr. Kaseba said it was important that men be screened for prostate cancer before the disease become cancerous.
And the First Lady expressed happiness with the turn up of people at the mobile hospitals, saying this shows the need for the provision of mobile health services throughout the country.
She said the programme was also essential in building capacity for the district members of staff who also receive training and lectures during the outreach programme.
Dr. Kaseba hoped that from the outreach programme, doctors in the districts will learn skills and knowledge and change their attitude towards patients.
She said doctors need to put the life of a patient at the centre of everything and not their personality.
The First Lady took time to visit patients she operated on yesterday to see how they were recuperating.
She also toured the new Choma general hospital where phase one of construction has been completed and is only awaiting handover to government.
Dr. Kaseba, who has since extended her stay in Choma to Friday, is expected later in the day carry out more major operations.
Meanwhile, Southern Province Medical Officer Simon Mutembo disclosed that six out of the nine prostate cancer operations that were booked have successfully been conducted.
Dr. Mutembo revealed that the other three patients declined to undergo the operations.
He further disclosed that the number of patients that have been attended to since the mobile outreach programme began on Monday has risen to 1, 527.
Dr. Mutembo said a total number of 463 women have also been screened for cervical cancer and 11 have since been referred for treatment.
The mobile health outreach programme is an undertaking for the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health and Ubutala Ubwa Bumi, which is a nongovernmental organization in the office of the First Lady.
ZANIS
Thank you Muka Yama, its good she pointed out that even at age her husband Sata, operations on prostate can be successful.
am sure another K200,000.00 is on it’s way to your pocket.Christina let the Urologists talk about Prostate Cancer,the only goodness with it is that it’s a slow killer compared to Cervical Cancer .Zambian media please cover our young hard working doctors dotted all over the country saving lives without stolen money and no equipment.This public relations from Christina is nauseating to say the least.Zambia has too many unsung heroes in the medical field not this media maniac woman.
You are very evil imwe @Ba Kolwe. Give credit where it’s due.
@Coachez,you are evil yourself,what credit is there to give a wife of dictator abusing state resources?
Ba Kolwe,
You seem to be full of hatred if Sata is a dictator, am afraid your post deems you one as well, Dictatorship can be categorised in many forms which many people are without being aware, calm down even in the middist of confusion, why dont you produce evidence if you have any and sort the situation out instead of lashing out accusations you only collect from third parties if not the internet? Be rational instead of ranting over issues you have no facts on, even if you might have one or two points they wouldnt make sense because of your bad language towards a respected woman. Am not giving you a lecture, merely advising take it or leave it.
The actually knows what she is talking about here both at a professional and personal level…
lady, do not mislead gullible zambians like your husband did! you want to make it a habit? mea?
breast cancer has well established relatively cost effective screening protocols such as mammogram/ ultrasound/biopsy and in some cases mdi. test sensitivity and specificity are well catered for in terms of diagnostic tests which need to be followed and the side effects of such would mostly be acceptable to most patients
Now lets talk about prostate cancer screening tests
1. PSA sensitivity around 80% meaning for 100 people who actually have prostate cancer tested with PSA only 80 will test positive, the other 20 will be FALSE negative and sentenced to die of their cancer.
2 PSA specificity is low, around 60%, meaning for every 100 people WITHOUT prostate cancer tested with PSA 60 will be…
truly negative while 40 will be false negative; meaning they they don’t actually have cancer but test positive. so tis group of people will be subjected to costly and harmful intervention procedures such as prostatectomy with its attendant complications of pain, bleeding impotence etc all for no benefit.
Finally in case I am misunderstood, I am not saying don’t test; but the risk/cost/benefit ratios need to be well described in each case and not a national routine screening program. Where the risk profile is high say family history of prostate cancer below age 60 in a first degree relative screening can start at age 40 and every 2 years. for the low risk screening AFTER explaining the pros and cons to the patient can start at 45
sorry meant to read 40 will be FALSE positive….
woman just cos your husband had a successful operation with our tax money doesn’t mean every 1 can afford that.he was busy flyn incognito to India and England and finally got beta but wat abt an ordinary Zambian who cant even afford a decent meal ar you teln me he can afford.hypocrite
Come on Zambian boys, don’t be afraid of doctors. An initial prostate test is simple and routine. All that the Doctor will do is ask you to undress to your butt. And you will be instructed to lie on your side. The Doctor will then put on a glove. He/she will then part your ass cheeks. He/she will then jam his/her middle finger deep down into your ass to your prostate. He/she will be pressing on it asking you whether you are feeling any pain or discomfort. And before you know it the finger is out and the glove thrown into a bin before you could even see your own sh/it
Atase iwe… sounds like you test on yourself.
If you have nothing to say please reserve your coments!!Ba kolwe’s comments are evil and childish indeed.Please give respect to everybody even if you dont like them.Umuchinshi usuma!!
@ what a life… ala some of this people who likes commenting rubbish staff here, it runs in the blood. from ifikolwe fyabo bonse bamusalula tabafundwa iyo.
I am keeping a moustache in support of the Movember cause to raise vital funds and awareness for prostate and testicular cancer and mental health. Last year this cause raised £92million. I am delighted to know that the first Lady is a Mo Sista. Rock on Mo Sista!!!