October 03, 2022
Prostate cancer a real killer for Māori men
“Maori men have the mentality of saying to themselves” swallow some cement and harden up”. This type of thinking needs to change” says Michael Wikotu, a passionate advocate for raising awareness of the dangers of prostate cancer, in his local community of Taumarunui.
Michael Wikotu says “We had a great response from our community, when we walked the streets with our buckets and blue wigs, to raise funds for this important kaupapa”.
A community support worker and Whanau Ora Navigator, for the Taumarunui Community Kōkiri Trust, Michael believes its’ important to keep providing information that encourage men to know the signs of Prostate Cancer, and the importance of visiting a doctor when feeling unwell.
“One in Eight Māori men are struck down by this silent killer, and that’s not Ok. Our men need to understand that it’s not a sign of weakness to seek help if they suspect something is wrong.
Too often our Māori men brush things aside, and put on an act that everything is ok, when it’s not. As a single dad of two daughters, I’ve come to realize just how important it is for me to be here for my kids, as I’m the only source of connection they have. If I want to live a long and productive life, I need to keep healthy in both mind and spirit” says Michael.
The forty-one year old says he knows of many whānau and friends who have passed away due to Prostate Cancer, and believes campaigns like “Blue September”, provide opportunities for men to educate themselves about the disease.
He says ” We had such an overwhelming response from the public today, and not only did we raise a huge amount of money, but most importantly, we had our Māori men coming forward to get tested, and that is the biggest reward.”, said Michael.
Story by Te Huinga Jackson-Greenland