PHOTO: Dr. Trevor Hassell, moderator at the Men’s Health panel discussion for Wednesday evening.
Panel Discussion Wednesday evening on Men’s Health
As part of the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour ‘Get Checked’ campaign, a panel discussion for men in the community will take place on Wednesday, March 20 from 7.30pm to 9.00pm at Divi Little Bay Beach Resort.
"I am appealing to the men in our community to take charge where it concerns their health. It is important to ‘Get Checked’ in order to detect possible ailments.
"The panel discussion will provide a wealth of information about Men’s Health and I take this opportunity to call on fathers, grandfathers and men in our community to come out and be informed. Take charge of your health," Minister of Public Health Cornelius De Weever said on Tuesday.
The moderator for the panel discussion is Professor Dr. Trevor Hassell, an Adjunct Professor of Medicine, University of the West Indies, Barbados. Hassell is also Honorary Consultant Physician and Cardiologist at the Barbados Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
The Rotary Club of Sint Maarten Sunrise, the Positive Foundation, and Collective Prevention Services from the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, have teamed up and taken the initiative to start a campaign to promote awareness for Men’s Health.
The Wednesday evening panel discussion is to increase the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men. The overall campaign which will continue after the panel discussion encourages men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury.
When it comes to prevention and early detection, Men’s Health often takes a back seat to women’s health. Research, however, shows that, compared to women, men are more likely to smoke and drink alcohol and generally lead less healthy lifestyles.
In addition men are more likely to put off routine checkups and also delay seeing a healthcare provider for symptoms of a health problem.
Men in the Americas live five to seven years less than women on average, the leading cause of death being non-communicable diseases, HIV/AIDS, injuries, and violence.
At the end of the panel discussion, attendees should leave with the notion of what they can do to live longer, happier and healthier lives.