Men’s Health Month Kicks Off With Health Screenings

By Jennifer Warren

NEWBURGH – Linda Jansen distinctly recalls her father’s struggle with managing his Prostate health; it was always at the epicenter of- barometer for his overall health assessment.

“Every time my dad did not feel well he thought his prostate was acting up again,” recalled Jansen, a recently retired Community Health Outreach worker with the Orange County Department of Health for 29 years. “To make him feel better, we always had him get another PSA (Prostate Specific Antigens) Test, just to relieve and give him some piece of mind.”

Seeing firsthand the potency of early testing and detection as well as that priceless piece of mind, Jansen is passionate about ensuring others stay atop their health. The avid volunteer could be seen Saturday morning assisting with the Medicaid Reserve Corp. conducting screenings at the Men’s Health Month Kickoff and Community Screening event sponsored by Independent Living and held inside the Newburgh Armory Unity Center. Held from 10am-2pm, the well-attended venue included; blood pressure and PSA Blood Test screenings, emergency preparedness information as well as guest speakers, Dr. Jaspreet Singh from Premier Medical Group, relaying potent information on the importance of early detection innovations and prostate health as well as AI and MRI technology and patient-centered screen experiences relayed by Dr. Evan Kaminer of Lenox Hill Radiology/RadNet.
“The blood pressure screenings went very well; we saw about 20 folks screened,” said Bryan Welsh, Director of Public Health Emergency Response for Orange County who coordinates the Medical Reserve Corp. “It’s good to do them in a casual setting like this, as it’s a low pressure way to help people get healthier.”

The PSA screenings too were very successful. Completed in a mobile van, parked outside the Armory, the critical screenings were given to around 10 men, most in the 40-50 year old range. First, interested parties registered indoors, and then were provided a time slot for a private exam in the large mobile unit.

“The impact we made today was very successful,” said Adwoa from the Mount Sinai Hospital Urology Department. “Early detection is the key; these tests are so, so important because Prostate Cancer is a silent killer, mostly no symptoms, or if they are there, oftentimes ignored; however, if this cancer is detected early, there are a wide variety of follow-ups and treatments available.”

The month of November will continue to focus on men’s health. Whether it’s getting blood pressure or any kind of cancer screening, limiting stress, maintaining a balanced-healthy diet, exercising or a host of other means to stay healthy and be proactive to prevent issues, the time and effort are well worth it.

“It’s so important to take care of one’s health, so one can enjoy life to the fullest,” said Jansen. “Good health maintenance allows one to have a better quality of life.”