June is Men’s Health month and for the second year, the Coalition for Healthier Escambia County and the Escambia County Health Department will host Men’s Health Day. The educational activity will be held as a part of Men’s Health Week in the county from June 16 — which is Father’s Day — through June 22.
This county-wide observance is a part of the state and national activity, which has been an annual event since 1994 and is designated by Congress.
Men’s Health Day will be held locally on Thursday, June 20, in the Education Center at D.W. McMillan Hospital. The event will be held from noon until 2 p.m. and a light lunch will be provided and the public is invited to attend.
“The program this year will follow the topics suggested by the Alabama Department of Public Health: Heart Disease, Prostate Cancer and smart lifestyle choices,” Ruth Harrell, chairwoman of the Coalition for Healthier Escambia County said. “In Escambia County, the topic of suicide prevention will also be addressed since suicide is now in the top ten causes of death among adult males. Research studies have documented that men make half as many physicians visits for prevention as women and that they are less likely to practice healthy lifestyles as women. This program, as was the case last year, will focus on prevention and screening tests that will help to promote healthier outcomes for men if practiced.”
Joining Harrell in inviting everyone to attend this important educational forum at the event will be Ricky Elliott. Elliott is an administrator for Public Health Area 9. Elliott’s area includes eight counties: Baldwin, Washington, Clarke, Monroe, Escambia, Conecuh, Butler and Covington.
Anchored by a Congressional health education program, Men’s Health month is celebrated across the country with screenings, health fairs, media appearances, and other health education and outreach activities, health fairs, media appearances, and other health education and outreach activities.
According to the Men’s Health Network, the goal of Men’s Health month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. This month gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. The response has been overwhelming with thousands of awareness activities in the USA and around the globe.
Statistics show that the top-10 leading causes of death in Alabama men are: Heart Disease (6,037), Cancer (5,665), Accidents (1,621), Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease (1,448), Cerebrovascular Disease (Stroke) (1,066), Diabetes (627), Suicide (521), Nephritis (519), Influenza and Pneumonia (438) and Septicemia (422).