Dying too young?

Jun 13, 2016 News

– health of Guyanese men poor, declining, says CMO
The health of the nation’s men came into specific focus last Saturday when the Men’s Health Unit of the Ministry of Public Health held its Inaugural Men’s Health Week Walk. Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle stated that the event was “All for the cause of raising awareness of the health issues that affect males in our society.”
Following the five kilometres walk, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud in his remarks, revealed that in Guyana, women tend to outnumber men by seven to one. He noted that this is due primarily to men usually dying earlier than women.
Persaud attributes this phenomenon to the toxic habits common to men. He believes that these have contributed significantly to a decline of men’s health in the country. He noted practices such as the lack of exercise, abuse of alcohol and tobacco smoking to be leading causes for the deterioration of men’s health.

Participants in the Health Week walk

Dr. Adu-Krow, PAHO/WHO Representative in Guyana highlighted the point that “…men are generally not health-seeking individuals; the Ministry of Public Health understands that creative ways and means have to and need to be put in place to encourage and foster good health-seeking behaviours in the male population.”
Men’s Health coordinator, Dr. Dennis Bassier, told the gathering that the event is the first of its kind in Guyana and will be followed by other activities during the remainder of the week which culminates on Father’s Day.
He made known that similar activities were first observed in the United States of America in 1994 and have since been adopted by countries across the globe.

Caption: Participants in the Health Week walk (health walk)