Luanda — Over 800 cases of prostate cancer were registered this year following 8,000 screening tests carried out in the country's various hospitals, Health minister Sílvia Lutucuta said Friday, in Luanda.

The minister was speaking to the press on the sidelines of the third ordinary meeting of the National Commission for the Fight against HIV/AIDS and Major Endemic Diseases, chaired by the Vice-President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa.

According to the minister, this figure worries the Ministry of Health, which is working to educate the male population to adhere to prostate cancer screening.

'We've already started this exercise. In addition to the physical examination, an analysis is also carried out,' he explained.

As part of "Blue November" awareness capaign, the month dedicated to the fight against prostate cancer, she urged men to go to health centres to be screened for the disease.

'Rectal examination can save your life. So all men aged 40 and over should be screened for prostate cancer,' he said.

This is a worldwide campaign that takes place during the month of November to raise awareness among men about the importance of prevention and early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

MEL/OHA/DAN/jmc