The Anguilla Electricity Company (ANGEC), a frequent health service donor, has again demonstrated that it is giving back to the community and not just a money-making entity.
On Monday, May 9, the statutory organisation donated US$9,000 to the Anguilla Cancer Society to provide vouchers for men wishing to receive testing for prostate problems before the onset of cancer of the gland.
A cheque for the above amount was presented by ANGLEC’s Chairperson of the Donation Committee, Ms. Catherine Emanuel, to Mrs. Jennifer Gumbs, President of the Cancer Society. “It gives me great privilege, on behalf of the management and staff of the Anguilla Electricity Company, as well as the Board, to present this cheque to the Anguilla Cancer Society for sponsoring the prostate cancer [tests],” she remarked. “It is very important for everyone to undertake this venture. It gives us pleasure to help not only our relatives, but other members of our community at a time when Anguilla is faced with various diseases and when there is a little downfall in the economy.”
Mrs. Jennifer Gumbs replied: “I thank the Anguilla Electricity Company for this generous donation on behalf of the Anguilla Cancer Society. It will go a long way in helping our men in relation to prostate cancer. We have learnt from our last statistics that prostate cancer is like six times the number of breast cancer cases we are having in Anguilla. Two weeks ago when I went to a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research they, too, were concerned about the number of prostate cancers we are seeing in Anguilla.
“This donation will help us to allow our men to be able to get their PSA or digital rectal examinations done. Even for those persons who are seeking medical attention, it is the desire of the Anguilla Cancer Society to assist them in any way – whether by a plane ticket [or some other way]. Our aim is never to say no to helping people.”
Mrs. Gumbs sought to allay fears by stating that: “If you have an enlarged prostate [gland] it doesn’t mean that you have prostate cancer. It means that it needs to be treated because it can become cancerous.”
The Cancer Society President, who is also the Senior Health Educator with the Health Authority of Anguilla, offered this very useful and important advice: “We are asking men who are forty years, and older, to check their doctor to get their PSA done. We are finding here in Anguilla that just like how you are having diabetes and high blood pressure, people can now identify with a family relative such as a father or grandfather who came down with prostate cancer. If you realise that you have a first family relative with prostate cancer, you should be checking your prostate at an early age.”
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is September and the early preparation for the health fair indicates the urgency of the need to provide the necessary assistance to the island’s menfolk. Last year there was a large response by some two hundred men to the call for prostate examination. Such was the turnout that the available vouchers quickly ran out.
