Men’s health programmes at polyclinics across the island will come under the microscope next week at a two-day workshop that will seek to strengthen the management and leadership capabilities of men’s health groups.
The workshop will take place from September 16 to 17 at the headquarters of the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) in Dayrells Road. It will have as its theme "Making a Difference in Men’s Health".
It also aims to assist members in gaining appropriate knowledge and skills that will allow them to function effectively.
Key objectives of the workshop are to identify health challenges confronted by men, discuss gender relationships and the impact on men’s health, develop creative strategies to encourage more men to communicate their health concerns, and identify the leadership and management style best suited to lead and manage men’s health groups. At the end of the sessions, men will also develop an action plan for taking their own health issues forward.
Two participants from each men’s health group in the eight polyclinics, as well as nurse facilitators and four youth group members with interest in men’s health, will attend the seminar.
Presenters will be Medical Officer of Health (Ag), Dr. Heather Armstrong; ??Senior Health Sister and Men’s Health Facilitator, Phyllis-Anne Murrell, both of the Black Rock Polyclinic; President of Dalkeith Methodist Church Men’s Ministry, Edward Williams; Guidance Counsellor at St Lucy Secondary School, Saul Leacock; and Family Health Advisor of PAHO, Dr. Betzabe Butron.
Community Health Nurse and Men’s Health Facilitator at Nevis’ Health Authority, Lorraine Archibald, will also share ideas and expertise from within the region.
Minister of Health, Donville Inniss, will address the start of the workshop at 9:15 a.m.
The workshop is the second of its kind. The first one, held in November 2007, in conjunction with PAHO, was shortly followed by the roll out of the men’s health programmes at the island’s polyclinics.