Jamaican Men Urged to Be Proactive in Managing Their Health

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is urging Jamaican men to be proactive in managing their health by doing regular screenings.

Speaking during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Lead for the Health System Strengthening Programme within the Ministry, Professor Alafia Samuels, noted that simple measures, such as blood pressure and weight checks, can prevent serious health issues.

Professor Samuels argued that Jamaica is facing a critical issue regarding the male population’s health, emphasising the need for this development to be seriously addressed.

She cited numerous interventions within the public health system targeting men, noting that their reluctance to engage with healthcare services can hamper the progress made by the Ministry.

Professor Samuels pointed out that many of the men who are attending primary-care facilities islandwide are not doing so for their own benefit.

“While we commend the increasing number of men bringing their children to health centres, a positive and encouraging trend, we must also emphasise the importance of men taking care of their own health,” she further stated.

The NCD Lead highlighted that men often avoid regular health checks, contributing to the prevalence of undiagnosed and uncontrolled conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure).

“It’s common to hear about seemingly sudden heart attacks in men as young as 45. However, these incidents are rarely sudden; they are usually the result of long-term, unmanaged high blood pressure,” she maintained.

Professor Samuels noted that the Ministry is implementing measures to engender health-seeking behaviour among the male population.

“Health centres are often perceived as focusing primarily on maternal and child health, making them less appealing to men,” she said.

Despite this perception, health centres offer essential services for men, including blood pressure and weight checks, which can significantly impact their overall health.

Professor Samuels explained that to create a more welcoming environment, several men’s clinics have been developed within the public health system.

These facilities are tailored to make men feel more comfortable and encourage them to seek regular health check-ups.

Women, who frequently visit health centres for various medical needs, are also encouraged to support and motivate the men they associate with to do likewise.

The NCD Lead said if men take a similar approach to their health as they do with maintaining their vehicles, they would be healthier.

“The men go to the gas station regularly to check the pressure in the car tyre, yet they are not checking their blood pressure, although the blood pressure is more important for functioning,” Professor Samuels underscored.

She advised that the Ministry plans to ramp up efforts to sensitise the men by working through trade unions to reach out to them in the workplace, adding “maybe we need to go there to find them, because they are not coming to us”.

Professor Samuels also noted that young men often assume they are healthy and do not need medical checks.

She, however, cited studies, including a survey conducted at the University of the West Indies (UWI), which reveal that many young men have high blood pressure, which puts them at risk for future health complications.