NEWS
UOB Joins Global Effort in Raising Awareness for Men’s Health
Educating Community on Prostate Cancer Prevention
UOB Joins Global Effort in Raising Awareness for Men’s Health.
Dr. Fuad Mohammed Al Ansari, President of the University of Bahrain, emphasized the university’s commitment to community partnership by organizing various activities for national and international occasions, which positively benefit Bahraini society as a whole and the university community.
His remarks came during his reception of participants in a seminar titled “Movember: Men’s Health Awareness Month,” under the slogan “Healthy Men, Healthy world.” Dr. Al Ansari explained that this health initiative falls within the university’s strategy to achieve community partnership by educating the public and promoting sound health concepts that protect men from physical and psychological illnesses.
The seminar, organized by the College of Health and Sport Sciences on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, in Sakhir, featured speeches from Dr. Akbar Jalal, Consultant Urological and Endoscopic Surgeon at the Salmaniya Medical Complex and Head of Medical Services for Surgical Departments, and Dr. Ahmed Hashem El-Monshed, Assistant Professor of Psychiatric Nursing and Mental Health at the University of Bahrain’s College of Health and Sport Sciences. The dialogue was moderated by Marwan Kamal Al-theeb, a Research and Teaching Assistant at the College of Health and Sport Sciences.
Dr. Akbar stated that “prostate cancer ranks as the third most common type of cancer among men,” confirming an average of 51 new cases annually in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He noted that contributing factors are varied, including advanced age, genetics, diet, and lifestyle. He stressed the importance of early screening to combat this cancer and emphasized utilizing the services provided by health institutions.
For his part, Dr. Al Munshid discussed the importance of raising awareness about the effects of mental health and its connection to physical health. He explained that feelings of stigma and the loss of a man’s perceived symbolic roles can prevent him from monitoring his physical health and benefiting from early screening as a crucial tool against prostate cancer. He also spoke about the important role of the family and community in providing psychological support for men, highlighting the significance of partnership between health institutions and the community.
On this occasion, the Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Bahrain also organized a lecture titled “Blue November: Your Health Matters, Man.” During the lecture, Dr. Al Rifai Masoud, a Consultant at Royal Bahrain Hospital, spoke about the importance of early prostate screening and how to prevent physical diseases in men.
It is worth noting that the World Health Organization dedicates the month of November every year to raising awareness on men’s health.
