Organisation to support men battling prostate cancer

With Thursday recognised as World Prostate Cancer Awareness Day, one organisation has vowed to support men across the island who have battled with the disease.

Psychologist and founder of the Centre for Solutions and Influence (CSI) for Men and Fathers Dr Anthony Cummins gave the assurance as he stressed that supporting men helps entire families and the wider world in general, and he called on women to come forward to assist.

“We are asking women not to stay back, not to have this hands-off approach, we need your support fully,” he said.

“This is an organisation which is tasked with a mandate to help the entire family. We cater to men but, truth be told, when we help the males, who do you think we are really helping?” he asked during a media launch for CSI at the Mega Prophetic Ministry Church in Wildey, St Michael.

The CSI will be hosting several initiatives, including a Prostate Cancer Prevention Walk titled Honouring my Father Fun Walk, which will be held on June 17, 2023 at 3 p.m.

“We are going to have a segment for awareness of prostate cancer which is the second highest deadly disease for men across the world. Cancer is number one and, therefore, we are going to ensure we dedicate two segments where we have survivors and families of those that have passed on walking in that walk,” he said.

The psychologist said the involvement of women was welcomed.

“Just because we are doing things for men that does not mean that we will leave women out. I don’t care how many women’s groups and associations they have; we cannot leave women out,” he said.

Minister of State with Responsibility for Crime Prevention Corey Lane, who attended the launch, said he wholeheartedly supported the cause.

He said it was high time men were celebrated as they were the backbone of society.

“The Government of Barbados definitely supports all positive initiatives that speak to honouring the family, honouring men, initiatives that speak to honouring the health of our nation. I give my full and 100 per cent support to this initiative,” he said.

The parliamentary representative for the City of Bridgetown added that “we need to reform the family”.

“The family has lost its way and all the activities and comments of CSI seem to be going in the right direction to reform families in this country,” he said.

Lane also called on other men to come out in their numbers as leaders in society.

“Never are men celebrated in a major way at the family level but that’s the level where it’s at. You must have strong families in order to have strong communities to have a strong nation. Our nation is not strong today because where men need to be strong they are not,” he said. (MR)