Prostate and colorectal cancers are among the leading causes of death for men in Côte d’Ivoire — and too many cases are not caught until it is too late. Like much of sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of cancer patients in Côte d’Ivoire are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when treatment is far more difficult and survival rates drop dramatically. Changing Côte d’Ivoire’s prevalence of late-stage cancers requires reaching men with the right information – empowering them to take control of their health, get screened, and visit a doctor promptly if concerning symptoms arise.
That is why BVGH is partnering with Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene, and Universal Health Coverage, the National Cancer Control Program (PLNCa), and Amgen to launch #CancerMinuteCI – a video awareness campaign designed to bring life-saving cancer education directly to men across the country. Beginning next month, these videos will be broadcast on the screens of 100 regional buses traveling across 13 major cities in the south of Côte d’Ivoire — meeting men where they are, on their commutes.
The videos feature Mr. Sylvain Aba, Coach Yoman, and Mr. Mohamed Ali – popular co-hosts of Les Hommes d’Ici, a well-known talk show on La Nouvelle Chaîne Ivoirienne – introducing prostate and colorectal cancers, explaining risk factors and prevention, and encouraging men to get screened regularly by their doctor. A third video features Dr. Sangaré Hassan, an oncologist at CHU Treichville, addressing common questions about prostate cancer. Updates on this program will be available after it launches.