SAVANNA-LA-MAR, JAMAICA — A wave of men’s health consciousness swept through Westmoreland on September 25 as hundreds of men gathered for a community-driven prostate cancer screening initiative—marking a decisive moment in local healthcare engagement.
The event, staged at Independence Park, brought together over 200 men of varying ages, united by a shared purpose: early detection and preventative care. While the clinical procedures were central, the energy of the day felt more like a rallying cry—breaking stigma, encouraging dialogue, and normalizing men’s health checkups in a society where silence too often proves fatal.
Norman Cole, a semi-retired Negril resident, described the annual experience as not just a checkup, but a lifeline.
“You get tested thoroughly, and they always follow up. The PSA, the rectal—everything is done right. They call if something is off. I tell my friends: don’t skip it. Show up,” he said.
For Victor Sangster of Chantilly Gardens, the issue is personal—and urgent.
“I’ve buried too many friends to prostate cancer. The fear of the test is killing more men than the disease. That has to change,” he noted with gravity.
The outreach wasn’t limited to prostate checks. Free blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, BMI, and ECG screenings were also on offer, transforming the park into a mobile diagnostic center. Volunteers and medical personnel were lauded for their warm approach and professionalism. One attendee, Joshua Grey, shared:
“Everyone was helpful. I did my sugar, pressure… I left feeling taken care of.”
At the helm of the initiative is Dorothy Satchwell, Founder and Chair of the Misty Blue Cancer Care Foundation, whose personal battle with cancer fuels the mission.
