The offer of free prostate checks for Alliance Group’s Pukeuri plant employees this month has had an enthusiastic response.

A new programme providing free on-site tests for employees at the meat processing plant, just north of Ōamaru, has already had 64 takers.

Gael Bell, medical supervisor at the plant, says cervical screening had been offered on site for a number of years but she was keen to offer something for men.

“A number of men on site had asked about prostate tests. I heard about a building company in Dunedin that was offering prostate testing for staff, so got in touch with their provider Awanui Labs to see if they could do it here too.

“It’s purely a blood test and we are offering it to over-50s. We put up posters on site and the response has been very good.” 

Having their prostate checked is something many men don’t do, because maybe they don’t want to take time off work to go to their doctor, or they just don’t get around to it, Gael says.

“Having the testing team here on site for a couple of days this month makes it very simple and the test only takes a few minutes. 

“Normally it would cost about $20 per person but because we had so many people interested, Awanui was able to offer us a competitive rate and Alliance Group is going to cover that, which is fantastic.”

As well as the on-site cervical screening provided by Southern District Health Board, the Pukeuri team works with health providers to undertake a range of other proactive wellness initiatives on plant including helping workers quit smoking, healthy heart checks, Hepatitis C testing, a diabetes clinic, budget advice, an addiction workshop and education around the measles vaccine.

Awanui Labs nurse Kerry Kircher takes a blood test from Greg Illingworth. Photo: supplied