‘All-male wellness centres overdue’

themselves, much less talk about them and ED, or erectile dysfunction, is one of them.
Judging from the way that sexual stimulants in their various forms are increasing in evidence and deductively therefore in high demand, there are many men in Zimbabwe who are relying on a little medical aid.
There are the viagra rip-offs that come in different packaging and under many names but all typically appearing as four oval blue, purple or red tablets placed in a diamond shape on the blister pack.
These are to be found all over, if one knows where to go. From Mupedzanhamo to respectable upmarket pharmacies, all you need is the right code word and the tablets are yours for a few dollars.
There are also various herbal supplements available for the same function. Some are openly placed on shelves in pharmacies with the ones of Chinese origin being the most popular.
Then there are the unregulated imported tablets, gels and cosmetics that claim to being the magical gateways to sexual prowess previously unimagined.
Some men swear by the traditional powders, roots or barks to be procured from traditional herbalists, Mupedzanhamo Market and in some cases from roadside “practitioners”.
The British National Health Service’s website says that ED is a very common condition, particularly in older men. It is estimated that half of all men between the ages of 40 to 70 will have some degree of ED.
A covert survey by this writer reveals that although men over 40 are the biggest buyers of sexual stimulation supplements and medications, there are a number of men below that age also reaching out for the various options.
So what conclusions can one reach on the status of the health of the Zimbabwean male?
Only a scientific study can fully establish what is causing the problem. But whatever it may reveal, the introduction of at least one all-male health facility is long overdue.
There are several dedicated wellness centres for women but nothing for the men. In most developed countries these have become standard and although they mostly concentrate on infertility and ED-related illnesses, most of them cater for men’s full health needs.
NHS attributes ED to physical or psychological causes.
Physical factors are related to problems such as the narrowing of the blood vessels – commonly associated with high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol or diabetes as well as hormonal problems. Psychological causes include anxiety, depression and relationship problems.
Increasing affluence, sedentary lifestyles, poor eating habits, obesity, high alcohol consumption and smoking are being blamed for the proliferation of non-communicable diseases including afflictions of the circulatory system which are happening to many Zimbabwean males.
But would it be correct to conclude that the majority of Zimbabwean males using the supposed stimulants in their various forms are in this position? And what potential psychological factors could be at play?
A general practitioner in Harare supports the idea of a dedicated all-male health facility as he says generally men do not have health seeking behaviour and it is not erroneous to assume that a good number are harbouring some silent killer non-communicable diseases is the early stages.
A look at the national HIV testing figures would seem to support this assertion. The National Aids Council is on record as stating that they collate national prevalence rates mostly from data gathered from women as men’s testing uptake is low.
It is, however, expected that the male circumcision programme will see 2011 statistics being slightly different as more men have been tested than in the previous years.
There are men who have expressed their discomfort with going through the circumcision exercise as they do not feel comfortable with female nurses.
Some may argue that women face male nurses and gynaecologists all the time with no complaints, but everyone should have the right to access health services from a centre and a provider that they are comfortable with.
The GP went on to say that the psychological factor could be the social typecasting of African males as bulls who must sexually dominate any relationship even if they have several partners.
Guy talk convinces men that they must constantly desire sex and be ready for it.
So the inability to do this is taken as personal failure of the worst sort and it is not something to discuss with anyone, especially a partner.
With all sorts of remedies on offer, how can men resist temptation to reach for the easy solution to avoid embarrassment?
Warning from medical personnel on the potential side effects of unregulated use of these stimulants including worsening the problem are ignored.
A dedicated wellness centre would encourage men to look after their health in whole while improving their sexual satisfaction without endangering their lives.
Women and children are traditionally viewed as the most vulnerable groups in society and a lot of resources are channelled into affirmative action to ensure that they get more equitable services in all areas including the health sector.
But ignoring men’s problems is short-sighted. Dedicated male medical centres would not only help men but the health of the nation as a whole. There are many tales of women suffering domestic violence and even dying after revealing to their partners that they have HIV or any other STI.
Such centres would ensure the dispensation of counselling and treatment services to men in environments in which they are comfortable therefore encouraging more men to come forward.