Men are beginning to do an about-turn in their behaviour, with many paying attention to their children and getting medical check-ups.
On International Men’s Day yesterday, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey thanked the men who had been stepping forward to become better parents and husbands.
He was attending the Bureau of Gender Affairs’ annual International Men’s Day Health & Wellness Fair, at the Warrens Office Complex, St Michael.
He admitted that the day did not get as much celebration as others but said that over the years that “There are many do not feel that their households, in their communities. with our colonial diligently to be minister said.
The men attending the usual health pointing out that reluctant to have many waiting until advance stages attend the doctor.
“We are hoping be able to reduce that had been improving. many men in Barbados who that they are being celebrated in households, in their workplaces and communities. A lot of that has to do colonial past and we are working be able to change that,” the attending the fair received health checks, with Humphrey that Barbadian men were have medical checks, with until they were in the stages of a preventative disease to doctor. hoping that during this we will reduce some of these preventable stages,” he said, adding that a number of the men were tested for non-communicable diseases, acute illnesses and sexually transmitted infections.
The ministry was also engaged in other activities that supported men, including the Peace Programme, an aspect of which involves mentorship.
“A large part is reaching out to young men in priority communities trying to be able to address a number of things, conflict resolution [and] anger management,” Humphrey said.
The improvement in the attitudes of men was reflected in the number of them who were taking greater pride in their children and evident by an increase in the number of men attending school meetings and sessions, which have been well documented, he said.
“But of course, there is still a long, long way to go. We are talking about reversing years of programming black Caribbean men that their role is only to be studs and bring children. You are now talking about a re-socialisation that is going to take some time, but I think we are seeing the benefits of it,” Humphrey said.
Director of the Bureau, William Warner, said the unit was seeing an increase in men being tested for diabetes and prostate cancer during community events, hence the decision to have a health fair.
“We have seen the results of more men coming out to health fairs, so we thought taking the services to the men would be critical. If they are not going to the institutions, then it is imperative that we take the services to them. Each year we have had this fair, the numbers have been growing and growing,” he said.
Warner said that last year was the first time for the prostate screening and a large number of men accessed the service.
“We’ve seen an increase in men being screened for diabetes, something that years ago men were reluctant to go and get tested. The outside health
fair has really helped to bring some of the men access [to] the services.” ( AC)
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