President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil drew condemnation from politicians and healthcare professionals for comments at a Monday night campaign rally in Belem, Para. The rally ranked among his final public events before the October 4 election in which he seeks a fourth term, following a visit that day to Sao Joao de Deus Hospital to see renovated rooms and a new robotic surgery unit for prostate cancer operations.

He mentioned his mother dying of cervical cancer when care was weaker and contrasted men’s reluctance to undergo prostate screening with women beginning related exams in childhood. He said robotic prostate surgery lets patients leave the same or next day without incontinence or impotence.

The Workers Party stated he meant preventive gynecological exams in women’s early health routines, while men avoid urological tests due to sexist culture, and blamed Senator Flavio Bolsonaro’s campaign for distorting the words with false reports.