The Ebonyi State Government has launched a month-long free prostate screening, treatment and surgery programme targeting more than 1,000 men across the state.
The initiative, introduced under Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration, was flagged off on October 5, 2026, at Ezzamgbo General Hospital in Ohaukwu Local Government Area, with hundreds of residents turning out for the exercise.
The programme, scheduled to run until November 5, 2026, will provide free medical screening and treatment for residents with prostate-related conditions, including government-funded surgery for patients who require more advanced medical intervention.
The initiative is part of the state government’s efforts to improve access to healthcare and reduce the financial burden associated with diagnosing and treating prostate diseases.
The Medical Officer of Ezzamgbo General Hospital, Dr Ifeanyi Edeaja, disclosed that more than 200 people underwent screening on the first day of the programme.
Edeaja explained that diagnostic tests, which typically cost between ₦50,000 and ₦70,000, and telescopic prostate surgeries, which can cost approximately ₦2 million, were being provided free of charge to beneficiaries.
He added that eight prostate surgeries had already been successfully performed under the programme, with no complications recorded.
According to the medical officer, the intervention has also significantly increased patient attendance at the hospital. Monthly outpatient visits, which previously stood at fewer than 60, have risen to more than 500.
He encouraged men experiencing prostate-related symptoms, as well as other eligible residents, to take advantage of the opportunity to access medical care without paying for the services covered by the initiative.
Edeaja further revealed that the state government had made provisions for screening, surgical procedures for approximately 50 patients and treatment for 1,000 other beneficiaries.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS), Uburu, Professor Jesse Uneke, called on men to prioritise regular medical examinations.
Uneke stressed that early detection of prostate-related conditions was essential to preventing complications and reducing the risk of death from diseases that could become more difficult to manage when diagnosed late.
He urged residents to embrace routine health checks and seek medical attention whenever they noticed unusual symptoms.
The Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Eze Paul Ituma, described the free prostate screening and treatment programme as a major healthcare intervention designed to bring essential medical services closer to residents at the grassroots.
Ituma specifically encouraged men aged 40 and above to participate in the screening exercise and benefit from the available treatment and surgical services.
He also assured the hospital management and medical team of the local government’s support for the programme.
The council chairman pledged to address water supply and sewage challenges identified by the hospital, noting the importance of a functional healthcare environment in delivering quality medical services.
The free prostate screening initiative is expected to expand access to early diagnosis and treatment while helping eligible residents of Ebonyi State avoid the high costs associated with prostate care.
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