UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, weekend intensified its awareness campaign against Prostate Cancer through an initiative tagged ‘Cycling for Prostate Cancer’.
The cycling event, which is the fourth edition of the Foundation’s annual prostate cancer awareness initiative, held in conjunction with ‘Jogging to Bond’; the employee engagement of UBA Plc in Nigeria and across the continent in the 19 countries where UBA has presence.
The executive management of the bank led by the Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, staff and members of the cycling community participated in the exercise which commenced from the UBA Headquarters on Marina, Lagos through Awolowo Road, Ikoyi and Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island and terminates at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos, where other health and fitness activities and free screening for Prostate Cancer took place.
Speaking before the cycling exercise was flagged off, Managing Director, UBA Foundation, Ms Ijeoma Aso, said Prostate Cancer in men is curable if detected early. “We are thus committed to promoting that awareness so that men above 40 years can get screened regularly and seek treatment if they test positive,” she said.
According to her, the screening for Prostate Cancer took place simultaneously in other centres in Nigeria and other parts of Africa in line with the mandate of the Foundation.”
The ‘Cycling for Prostate Cancer’ is coming on the Mini-marathon for Prostate Cancer event in 2013. The Prostate Cancer awareness campaign was launched by the Foundation in 2011 when it organised ‘Walk, Cycle and Jog for Prostate Cancer’ event. This was followed by the ‘Play Soccer for Prostate Cancer’ event in 2012 when the Foundation brought out ex-Nigerian international soccer stars to play soccer and stand up for Prostate Cancer.
The UBA Foundation uses sports as a platform to spread awareness of prostate cancer and at the same time promotes healthy lifestyles.
Speaking at the event, Head Business Development and Retention Unit Marina Medical Services (HMO), Dr Olalekan Osineye described Prostate cancer as a cancer that develops in the prostate gland, which is part of the male reproductive system (produces fluid for semen) and is located in front of the rectum and below the urinary bladder.
Osineye said that risk factors for developing prostate cancer are: age, family history, race, genetics and diet noting that symptoms of prostate cancer include problems passing urine, such as pain, difficulty starting or stopping the stream, low back pain and pain with ejaculation.
As the corporate social responsibility arm of the UBA Group, UBA Foundation is committed to the socio-economic development of the communities where it operates, focusing on the areas of Environment, Education, Economic Empowerment and Special Projects. UBA Foundation draws its inspiration from the Group’s intrinsic values of humility, empathy, resilience and integrity.