Two men register with the Office of Gender Affairs as part of the Men's Health Fair at the Band Stand on June 11, 2013. Photo: VINO

Gender Affairs Coordinator, Lorolie Connor (left) said, Gender Affairs promotes policies and programmes for gender equality and equity and healthcare is definitely an area where there is an imbalance, because our men are not doing what they need to do to ensure their longevity. Photo: VINO

A drug education kit on display at the Men's Health Fair. Photo: VINO

Rosie Dawson of the BVI Diabetes Association served as one of the facilitators at the Men's Health Fair. Photo: VINO

Some of the men that took advantage of the services on offer at the Men's Health Health Fair at the Band Stand. Photo: VINO

Gender Affairs Coordinator, Lorolie Connor, said the move was to achieve a more central location during Men’s Health Week observations. The activity was held as part of efforts to encourage men to take care of themselves and to be more preventative or proactive in their actions, Connor related.

“Gender Affairs promotes policies and programmes for gender equality and equity and healthcare is definitely an area where there is an imbalance, because our men are not doing what they need to do to ensure their longevity,” the Coordinator disclosed.

She explained that it was even evident in the reactions of some men at the Health Fair yesterday that this was the case, “when they heard what we were doing, they literally ran out the park,” Connor said, “they feel they’re invincible, they feel there is no need for them to be checked.”

The BVI Diabetes Association was on hand to provide screenings for blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels, and according to the Coordinator, many of the persons that showed up said they never had any of these tests done before.

“This is not going to take one or two of these events for us to change the mindset of the people, it’s going to take continuous education,” Connor stated.

The view that men didn’t take their health as seriously as they should was emphasised by one of the participants, Stephen, who said, “I don’t think men feel there is a need… we don’t do it unless we absolutely need to, there is no need to.”

He felt that men generally do not look at the long term issues associated with their health and simply looked at the present.

Connor expressed amazement at the mindset that was prevalent among men, even in the face of evidence that showed that diseases such as diabetes were rampant within the society. “We have cases now of children with diabetes, that’s a serious thing,” she stated.

Connor said she couldn’t emphasize enough, the old adage which states that prevention is better than cure. “We have to get society to change their mindset, the way they think, because at the end of the day, it’s the women who are left with the children… raising them,” she said.

Gender equality

The Coordinator explained that the National Gender Policy, which was recently passed in the House of Assembly, has been instrumental in creating awareness of gender issues. The policy looks at areas of education, healthcare and employment among others.

“There are so many areas that have a gender imbalance that people are not aware of and at the end of the day, gender equality is a precondition to our sustainable development but people aren’t making that connection, the connection that gender is indeed important for the smooth operation of our society,” Connor explained.

She reasoned that with continued economic growth and resultant changes, the gender imbalance would become even more pronounced.

Connor found hope in the fact that the policy had been passed, however, and saw this as a way forward. “It shows the commitment by those persons who are in power. It started with the previous government but this government actually finished the process.”

Women also dropped in to take advantage of the services being offered at the Health Fair as well, and some even brought their male partners along to be tested.

There were also dental services and mental health services offered at the Fair, which included representation from the Sandy Lane Centre and Miracle Garden, a private behavioural agency.

Connor said the response was fair and saw a mixture in the age range of participants, many of whom came earlier in the day as the Health Fair ran from 10 A.M.-3 P.M. Participants registered their names as they came to be tested.

Connor disclosed that many of the participants were passers-by in the area, a sign that the location change may have proven to be effective. The event was held at Sir Olva Georges Plaza last year.

More than 70 persons received blood pressure testing, according to one of the facilitators.

The exercise continues in Virgin Gorda today, June 12, 2013 and will be followed be a similar visit to Her Majesty’s Prison at Balsum Ghut on the next day. Connor said she firmly believed that the prison’s staff and inmate population should not be forgotten during the agency’s campaign.

There is also a family fun day event scheduled for Nanny Cay this Saturday from 1-4 P.M. with lots of games.

The Coordinator encouraged men within the society to examine their roles as fathers more seriously even as the agency rolled out its fatherhood campaign for the month of June. The campaign is part of a global initiative by MenCare.