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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Health Buzz
When this column debuted in November 2022, our first story highlighted the pressing issue of prostate cancer, a disease affecting millions of men globally.
This marked the start of Men’s Health Awareness Month, a crucial period for raising awareness about males’ health concerns.
Unfortunately, since then, the focus on men’s health has waned.
While women’s and children’s health remain important, men’s health often takes a back seat. This oversight is a significant issue, as men face unique health challenges that can have dire consequences.
As much as we may take our small share of the blame, in not raising as much awareness as we should, everyone is guilty of this.
Including the men themselves!
Men’s health has long been a neglected aspect of public health discourse. With the men themselves often being reluctant to discuss or address their health concerns.
This silence has contributed to a crisis in men’s health, with alarming rates of preventable illnesses and premature deaths.
As we go blue to commemorate Men’s Health Awareness Month this November, it is crucial to advocate for men to prioritise their own health, encourage them to seek medical care and embrace proactive measures to mitigate the risks they face.
Men’s health is intricately linked to societal expectations and traditional masculine norms. The notion that “real men” should be tough, resilient, and uncomplaining has fostered a culture of silence and stoicism.
This stigma surrounding vulnerability and emotional expression discourages men from seeking medical attention, leading to delayed diagnoses and inadequate treatment.
And one of the most significant health challenges affecting men is prostate cancer.
This debilitating disease affects millions worldwide, with men over 50 being particularly vulnerable. In Zimbabwe, prostate cancer accounts for 15 percent of all cancer-related deaths among men.
According to the National Cancer Registry Annual report of 2019, cancer of the prostate was the most common among black men accounting for 32,5 percent of all cancer cases in this population group.
It was the second most frequently occurring cancer among Zimbabweans of all races after cervical cancer, accounting for 11 percent of all cancer cases reported in that year.
Breast cancer followed at 8 percent of all cases.
Prostate cancer remains a silent killer, claiming lives that could have been saved with timely intervention.
Early stages of prostate cancer often exhibit no symptoms, making regular screening crucial. But as the disease progresses, men may experience difficulty starting or stopping urination, weak or interrupted flow of urine, painful or burning urination, difficulty getting an erection, painful ejaculation, blood in semen or urine as well as frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or pelvis.
But why do men die from prostate cancer?
Despite the availability of effective treatments, many men succumb to prostate cancer due to late detection, lack of screening, cultural stigma, limited access to healthcare and misconceptions about treatment as many fear the side effects of treatment such as impotence or incontinence.
But prostate cancer survival rates are significantly higher when detected early.
According to the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe, 90 percent of men diagnosed with localised prostate cancer survive five years or more while 30 percent of men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer survive five years or more.
Although prostate cancer is at the forefront of illnesses that affect men, there are other health challenges that disproportionately affect men.
But they are rarely spoken about.
Cardiovascular disease is one such disease which accounts for 30 percent of male deaths globally.
Hypertension is also affecting about 40 percent of Zimbabwean men but whenever the disease is mentioned, it wears a woman’s face.
This is partly because women openly disclose that they are hypertensive and they take their medication openly.
Who can honestly say they have seen more than five men who openly take BP medication within their circle of friends?
It just goes to show that many of them could either be taking their treatment silently or just telling themselves that men do not need to be on BP treatment.
Then there is mental health; one of the most debilitating health issues affecting millions of people worldwide.
And men are not spared.
Mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety are often masked by societal expectations.
Which man wants to admit that they are having a mental breakdown?
Surveys from around the world find that males everywhere are reluctant to talk about their mental health and are more likely to die by suicide than females.
An analysis carried out by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2021 shows that situational stressors also play a major role in suicide deaths among many men who might not have a documented mental health history.
These stressors can include anything from relationship troubles, arguments or financial challenges.
While there isn’t a different type of ‘male depression’, experts say symptoms such as irritability, sudden anger, increased loss of control, risk-taking and aggression are associated with more men than women.
Men may also be more likely to use alcohol and drugs to cope with their depression rather than talking about it
It is also believed that men are less likely to receive formal mental health support of any kind than women.
Studies show that men are more likely to engage in hazardous drinking and drug use than women.
Zimbabwe currently has a huge burden of drug and substance use and misuse which accounts for more than 60 percent of all patients being admitted in mental health facilities across the country.
The majority of these are men.
These are just a few examples but there are many other conditions and illnesses that affect men more than they do women but remain largely unacknowledged.
Lack of awareness and poor health-seeking behaviour are significant contributors to these disparities.
Because men often neglect routine check-ups, ignoring warning signs and symptoms until it’s too late.
This reluctance to seek medical care is at times compounded by inadequate healthcare infrastructure and resources, particularly in marginalised areas.
Although Government has introduced initiatives to improve access to health care for all, more needs to be done to raise awareness and encourage early detection of diseases.
Breaking the silence surrounding men’s health requires a multifaceted approach.
Every stakeholder must play their part and adopt a more inclusive and culturally sensitive approach, creating safe spaces for men to discuss their concerns.
Community-based programs, advocacy efforts, and awareness campaigns can help challenge traditional norms and encourage men to prioritise their health.
As the country strives for better health outcomes, it is essential to recognise the intricate relationships between physical and mental well-being, social determinants, and healthcare access.
By addressing these interconnected factors, men can be empowered to take control of their health, fostering a healthier, more resilient society.
With men who are consciously healthy, the country can definitely achieve universal health coverage.
But it starts with them realising that the phrase “man up” does not mean they should pretend to be okay when they are not.
It means they should “man Up” and take their own health seriously.
And we paint the town blue in support!
Feeback:
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter