The Leeds Rhinos Foundation and first team Leeds Rhinos player Josh Walters were present at last week’s Black Health Initiative launch of the new ‘Men’s MOT’ community clinic at Leeds West Indian Centre.
The Leeds North Commissioning Group and Prostate Cancer UK, working with the Black Health Initiative, have set up the clinic to help tackle the prevalence of prostate cancer in men from the black and minority ethnic communities in Leeds.
The centre located in Chapeltown, Leeds will provide practical support and referrals to other sources of cancer information and services, to improve quality of life for men affected by the disease.
The Black Health Initiative works towards equality in Education, Health and Social Care existing primarily to work with African, African Caribbean and other marginalised communities in addressing and challenging their inequalities in health.
Present at the event was Black Health Initiative CEO Heather Nelson, who commented on the importance of the clinic to the black and minority ethnic communities:
“BHI were ecstatic to be able to launch the ‘Men’s MOT’ community clinic at the Leeds West Indian Centre in January. The clinic is centred around the issue of Prostate Cancer disproportionately represented within Black African, Black African Caribbean and Dual Heritage men, with stats of 1-4 as opposed to 1-8 in White men. The reasons for the inequality are yet unknown but research is ongoing.
“The clinic is commissioned by Leeds North Clinical Commissioning Group and Prostate Cancer UK and we are pleased to have Leeds Rhinos supporting this innovative, pioneering programme.”
Dan Busfield, who is the partnership manager for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation commented on the event:
“The Leeds Rhinos Foundation are pleased to be able to support the valuable work of the Black Health Initiative in the opening of this Men’s MOT clinic. The issue of Prostate Cancer affects many people in the Leeds community with a high proportion from the black and minority ethnic communities, so clinics like the one opening here in Chapeltown will be vital to raising awareness and supporting those affected.”