In an unusual move to support the Movember campaign, GDDKiA posted a video showing men urinating inside a tunnel on the S7 near Skomielna Biała, sparking backlash across Poland.
Movember: Aiming to Raise Men’s Cancer Awareness
The internationally‑launched Movember movement began in 2003 to promote awareness of prostate and testicular cancers. The campaign takes its name from the combination of “moustache” and “November,” encouraging men to grow facial hair as a visual reminder in the month of November.
GDDKiA Joins the Campaign with a Controversial Video
On the social‑media platform X, the General Directorate of National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) posted a short clip featuring two men exiting a vehicle and urinatiing inside a tunnel on the S7 near Skomielna Biała. The footage was shot in front of a tunnel’s concrete wall and circulated rapidly online.
The Turbulent Tunnel Footage
In the clip the men stand on the tunnel floor, pulling up their pants and defecating a short distance from the tunnel entrance. Viewers accused the video of sexual content and called for disciplinary action against the participants, who were later identified by the authorities.
Official Commentary and Public Reaction
GDDKiA released a statement on the same platform, emphasizing that November is a month to focus on early diagnosis of prostate and testicular cancer and urging men to seek a specialist rather than “the tunnel S7 under the wall.” The agency highlighted that many men feel embarrassed to see a doctor and that early detection saves lives. The video provoked strong emotions from users, some of whom demanded that the men be punished.
Rising Concern Over Men’s Cancer Screenings
Every year, Poland records almost 18 000 new prostate cancer cases, the most common male cancer. Professor Piotr Bryniarski of the Silesian Medical University notes that a raised PSA marker signals risk and that men should perform self‑checks of the testicles for lumps or swelling. Testicular cancer is most frequently diagnosed in men aged 20 to 40. Urologists say that men often avoid routine checks, and the Movember campaign seeks to remind them to keep up with screenings.
