An appeal has been launched to raise $300,000 to buy a purpose-built van to provide health screening for men.

Last year, the DailyMale Men’s Health Clinic ran a successful free screening campaign with a series of pop-up clinics across the island.

Jonathan Makajuola, the organisation’s cofounder, said that a purpose-built van would enable the clinic to be more mobile, and allow for screening beyond the issues that were the initial focus of DailyMale — prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease.

“Our stated goal is to establish a community-led health charity for men in Bermuda to understand the importance of early detection and prevention of diseases and to provide them with the resources they need to make informed decisions about their health,” he said.

“To do this, we aim to raise funds to purchase a screening van, medical supplies and promote health education.”

Dr Makajuola added: “Please support our community effort to increase health access and awareness for the underserved by instituting a screening van to increase health access, remain cost-effective, improve health outcomes and bridge healthcare to the community.

“This would be Bermuda’s first mobile screening van and, as we are centred around collaboration, our van can be utilised by other local charities and health organisations for other medical screening activities.

“A health-screening van will not only provide free point-of-care testing to the underserved but play a key role in improving the health of future generations.”

The consultant urologist said an estimated 12 per cent of Bermuda’s male population was uninsured, creating demand for services provided by DailyMale, which was recently given charitable status.

“We started in February 2023 and to date, more than 150 men have received health screening in Bermuda,” Dr Makajuola said.

“Our feedback surveys demonstrated that 99 per cent of men were satisfied with their experience and wanted DailyMale permanently available.

“We have more than 80 volunteers made of local community leaders, healthcare professionals and prostate cancer survivors.

“We aim to identify a percentage of high-risk men that will need to be assessed for prostate cancer or poor cardiovascular health and offer early diagnostics and treatment.

“This will prevent the spiralling costs of managing metastatic prostate cancer and heart failure, prevent premature mortality and improve awareness among men in Bermuda.

“From our efforts, up to 6 per cent of our clinic visitors have been diagnosed with cancer and are currently being treated.”

It is estimated that $300,000 will be needed to buy and license the van with another $20,000 a year required for operational costs.

• Anyone who would like to donate can visit dailymaleclinic.com and click ‘Donate Today’, or e-mail info@dailymaleclinic.com