Nyeri county health officials are appealing to men residing in the county to adopt positive health practices by giving priority to their wellbeing and embracing early medical checkups.
This is after it emerged that only 30 per cent of men in the county seek medical care at the right time. These findings confirm 2023 research by the Nyeri County Health Department which revealed that men in the county are adamant about seeking medical checkup.
The 2023 findings showed that, 85 per cent of all the suicide victims that have been reported in the county were men. Additionally, out of 10 cancer cases recorded eight were from male patients.
According to Ms Deborah Kioko, an officer working with Amref Health Africa under the THRIVE project, data collected from the county health centres over the last one year indicate that men are still reluctant about seeking health services.
Ms Kioko says that unlike women who visit healthcare facilities at the first stages of an ailment, 70 per cent of men in Nyeri only seek medical attention when their health deteriorates or during a health complication.
“Approximately 30 per cent of men were able to access the services that we previously provided and that is a low number. When we look at the challenges that men are experiencing in Nyeri especially mental health, issues to do with urology and even accessing services that touch on non-communicable diseases including hypertension and diabetes. The findings show that men have not been creating time to get screened,” she said.
Ms Kioko was speaking at the Nyeri Town health centre during a one-day men only medical camp that was organised by the County Department of Health services and funded by Amref through the Modern Foundation.
During the camp the close to 500 men who turned up received free eye and dental consultation, mental health screening and counselling, Tuberculosis screening, prostate cancer screening, diabetes and hypertension screening and HIV and sexually transmitted infection screening among other wellness checks.
Medicine was also dispensed on site for free for those who were diagnosed with various ailments while patients with serious medical conditions were referred to the Nyeri County Referral hospital for further treatment.
Ms Kioko said in addition to Nyeri Central sub-county, Amref and the health department will partner to cascade the in-reach medical camps to three other sub-counties to enhance access to health services by men.
“We have decided to hold the clinics in Mukurwe-ini, Mathira East and Nyeri South on a quarterly basis for the next one year so that we can provide services to all of the men and be able to address some of their health concerns,” she said.
The Nyeri Central sub-county health officer, Grace Mwangi, noted that in the course of their research, the department of health had noted that men preferred being treated in a secluded setup. She said that the men-camps will be effective in addressing the privacy barriers that prevent men from seeking medical help.
The sub-county health officer also said that the department will also employ the strategy to embolden men, who are most affected by mental health issues in the county, to seek psychosocial support.
“This in-reach is an eye-opener that men do not want to mix with the female or children or they would enjoy and embrace men only medical camps. Looking at the turnout today, men have actually left behind what they normally do to come and get screened because they knew that the camp was specially set up for them and they will get the privacy they are always looking for,” she said.
“Men are suffering with many issues that they are not able to articulate and that is why you find most of the mental health related issues we are witnessing in our sub-counties are actually among the male gender.That is why we have incorporated the mental health education so that they can actually articulate their issues and know that there is a way out and where they can seek help,” she added.
One of the beneficiaries of the medical camp, George Mathenge, lauded the organisers for setting aside a day to bring men centered health services closer to them. He said most men often shy away from seeking help due to fear of being labelled weak and prefer such forums which guarantee their privacy.
“This is a good initiative that will encourage men to come out of their shell and seek medical services because we men shy away from visiting health facilities due to stigma. I am also happy because it is free and it will save us a lot of money because of the current financial challenges that many of us are facing,” stated Mathenge.
His sentiments were echoed by Moses Wamugumo a resident of King’ong’o who urged the county to consider hosting such camps annually in order to save more men who are suffering in silence.