“If Men Won’t Talk, We’ll Screen Them”: Beginnings Pharmaceuticals Targets 200 Men in Free Prostate Cancer Push

By Desire Tshuma

HARARE — Beginnings Pharmaceuticals is betting that free screening will do what silence hasn’t: get men to face prostate cancer head on. The one-year-old supplier of medicines and medical equipment will host its second Prostate Cancer Conference on Saturday 27 June 2026 at Prince Edward High School, offering free medical checks and screening to 200 men.

The push comes after last year’s inaugural event exposed how many cases go undetected. On 28 June 2025 at Trinity Methodist Church, MedPoint Radiology screened 50 men and found 65% of those over 40 had an enlarged prostate, some already on treatment, others only now learning their status. Attendance was 37 people, including 35 men and two women who brought a blind father for screening. Doctors and Nurses on a Mission Trust also provided free blood pressure, weight and temperature checks.

Speakers at the first conference included oncologist Dr Makova, mental health therapist Mr Muchemwa, medical physicist Mr Lemuel Mapaike from Let’s Talk Cancer Zim, and survivor Mr Mukanganga. The response convinced Beginnings, registered in January 2025, to turn its outreach into a formal Prostate Cancer Initiative.

Backed by Matclinic Oncology Centre, Mrs Paradza, Probottlers, Lumi’ere Media, Shincheonji Volunteers and Trinity Methodist Church, the initiative will again provide free screening in 2026 with Matclinic supporting MedPoint Radiology. This year’s programme adds sessions on signs and symptoms, nutrition, mental health and other practical guidance for patients and families.

Beginnings also plans to start a support group for men to discuss the physical, mental and emotional impact of prostate cancer, and will work with general practitioners and oncologists to make treatment more affordable.

Local prostate cancer data remains limited. Global estimates for 2022 to 2024 put new cases at nearly 1.5 million annually and deaths at about 397,000, according to Vitus Privatklinik.

Entry to the 27 June conference is free. For details contact Eddie on +263 772 379 041.