Here’s to men’s health!

CRANBOURNE MP Jude Perera was joined by exercise guru Daniel Alford and social worker Hugh Walpole, both from Southern Health, to celebrate International Men’s Health Week on Friday.
Sporting the slogan ‘look after your plumbing’, International Men’s Health Week openly encourages men and boys to actively look for ways to improve their health and well-being.
Mr Perera said the week was also an opportunity to acknowledge the great work of Southern Health staff, like Mr Alford and Mr Walpole, in supporting men’s health issues in the Cranbourne area.
“Men and boys face different health concerns than women and girls, and men’s health week is an opportunity to acknowledge these differences,” he said.
“The Australian Bureau of Statistics Mortality Atlas Australia shows that the death rate from the main causes of death is generally higher with men than women.”
The average death rate per 100,000 persons (1997 – 2000) includes:
• Malignant tumours – 238 males compared with 147 females.
• Heart disease – 190 males compared with 120 females.
• Strokes – 66 males compared with 66 females.
• Respiratory diseases – 47 males compared with 23 females.
• Accidents – 36 males compared with 20 females.
• Suicide – 22 males compared with 6 females.
• Diabetes – 20 males compared with 14 females.
• Influenza and pneumonia – 14 males compared with 11 females.
• Traffic accidents – 13 males compared with 6 females.
• Mental disorders – 11 males compared with 10 females.
Mr Perera added that Andrology Australia, a men’s health centre, had free resources available for workplaces interested in distributing information to employees during International Men’s Health Week.
By ordering resources, those interested can also enter a men’s health week competition to win a round of golf with Ambassador Merv Hughes.
Visit the Andrology Australia website, www.andrologyaustralia.org to enter.