These are only some of the statistics and issues that were discussed at the second annual National Men’s Health Day Conference held last month at the Conference Center of the Central Facility Building in Palikir.
Hosted by the Department of Health and Social Affairs, the conference addressed the theme of “Men’s Roles in Family Health.”
The conference was attended by over 60 men and women, including Chief Justice Andon Amaraich and Secretary of Health and Social Affairs Dr. Vita Skilling.
Opening remarks were made by Amaraich who called for innovative solutions to the obesity epidemic affecting the FSM in the upcoming National Law Day debates.
Highlighting the importance of family health, he said: “We all know wisdom comes with age. We need to keep our children alive and healthy so that they too can contribute to the growth of our nation.”
Some of the diseases men in the FSM are prone to, or likely to suffer more from than women, include: heart disease, diabetes, hypertension/high blood pressure, chronic lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, prostate and other cancers, and strokes.
To take action for your own health: Stop smoking — or don’t start, stop chewing betel nut, which causes cancer and kills faster with tobacco, lose weight and get more exercise, eat local food and less rice and canned meat, reduce your processed sugar like those found in soda and ice cream, and get yearly check-ups at the hospital or clinic, including a prostate exam for men over 40.
This year’s conference was dedicated to the founders and compassionate leaders of the FSM who have passed away or are now disabled.
