KZN Health MEC encourages men to prioritise health and seek help
Image: Tumi Pakkies / Independent Newspapers
KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has issued a heartfelt appeal to men across the province to prioritise their health and seek medical assistance when necessary, stressing that doing so is 'not a sign of weakness.'
Speaking on the Department's KZN Health Chat multimedia programme recently, Simelane said the Department is intensifying efforts to bring health services closer to men, who are often reluctant to access them.
'As the Department of Health, we are encouraging men to change their mindset and realise that seeking help is not a sign of weakness,' said Simelane. 'We are really urging them to come to our clinics, Community Health Centres, and hospitals.'
She said the reluctance of many men to seek healthcare has dire consequences. 'It's a known fact that men generally do not like to come to health facilities. Women do come, and so do girls. You can see that they grow up knowing it's normal to seek help. However, when it comes to men, and even boys, you can see that they don't want to come through, which makes it difficult for us to deal with various ailments that affect them.'
Simelane warned that many men die prematurely from treatable illnesses simply because they delay seeking help. 'It is not uncommon for men to suffer from a severe headache, due to high blood pressure or a hypertensive crisis, and not seek help up until it leads to something as serious as stroke.'
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To address this challenge, the Department has established 129 Men-Friendly Clinics throughout the province.
'This is a good achievement when you consider that we didn't have a single one two years ago,' she said. 'These clinics don't only deal with issues such as erectile dysfunction. They address men's health needs holistically, including ailments such as high blood pressure, diabetes, mental health, HIV, TB, cancer screening, and much more.'
The goal this Men's Month is to encourage a mindset shift. 'We want men to know that there's no shame in coming to the clinic. We want to help before things get worse,' Simelane said. 'However, the real change must come from the men themselves by taking that first step towards a healthier and longer life.'
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