Health experts and prostate cancer advocates have called for the urgent introduction of fair incentives to encourage African men to take part in clinical trials. They described the current exclusion of African men as unfair and harmful.
At the first-ever Science of Advanced Prostate Cancer in Africa Conference, speakers lamented that African men are being left behind in life-saving medical research.
The initiative was supported by several global and regional groups, including the Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium, Inclusive Cancer Care Research Equity Consortium, Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium, and the African-Caribbean Cancer Consortium.
With the theme “Addressing Advanced Prostate Cancer in Africa Through Inclusive Clinical Trials”, the conference brought together researchers, doctors, policymakers, survivors, and advocates from Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Benin, Togo, and Nigeria. Nigerian universities and teaching hospitals in Maiduguri, Ilorin, Calabar, Ogun, Lagos, Enugu, and Port Harcourt also joined discussions and workshops aimed at improving patient outcomes.
Data presented at the event showed that, although Black men carry the highest burden of prostate cancer globally, they make up only 6.7 per cent of participants in treatment trials. Even more worrying, only 0.5 per cent are included in screening trials worldwide.
Delegates suggested adopting international models such as the PATHFINDER proposal in the United States, which recommends tax credits and direct payments to trial participants. They said similar frameworks could be adapted for Africa.
They also urged the use of churches, mosques, and community centres for culturally sensitive outreach to tackle stigma and misinformation around the disease.
Prostate cancer survivor and advocate Dennis Olise said it was wrong that patients receive no support while researchers and clinicians are paid.
He argued that participants in clinical trials should be supported with transportation, meals, and compensation for lost income. This, he said, would reflect respect and dignity for African men.
Olise said: “If researchers and clinicians are paid for their expertise, then participants and advocates—whose contributions are equally important—deserve the same respect. We are not just data points; we are experts in living with this disease. Incentives are about equity, dignity, and giving African men a fair chance to fight prostate cancer.”
Another survivor, Leo Adejoro, said stigma and cultural beliefs remain major barriers.
“Many still see prostate cancer as a death sentence or a spiritual attack, which prevents them from seeking medical help. We must break the silence, shame, and myths. Education, alongside fair incentives, will encourage more men to get screened and join trials that can save lives,” he said.
The conference ended with a joint call for governments, researchers, and industry players to design sustainable, locally relevant frameworks that ensure fairness and inclusivity in prostate cancer research.
