Derry men urged to get health MOT at special event in the Richmond Centre this week

A special event will be held in Derry this week to give men a health MOT.

It will take place at the Richmond Centre on Friday, June 16, from 2pm to 4pm.

The event is being organised by the Western Trust as part of Men’s Health Week.

At the Richmond Centre stall, men will be able to have free health checks such as; blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and Body Mass Index.

There will also be information and advice on the main cancers that affect men.

Sandra Semple, a Health Improvement Officer with the Western Trust, urged local men to come along to the event.

“Men’s Health Week offers an ideal platform to do something positive and start this process. Making even very small changes can have a huge impact in the longer-term.

“Research shows that local men experience a disproportionate burden of ill-health and die too young.

“Local men die, on average, four and a half years younger than women do.

“Males have higher death rates than women for all of the leading causes of death.

“Poor lifestyles are responsible for a high proportion of chronic diseases.  Late presentation to health services leads to a large number of problems becoming untreatable.”

She added: “Men’s Health Week seeks to support men and boys to: engage in healthier lifestyle choices and activities; encourage the early detection and treatment of health issues and heighten awareness of preventable health problems, including mental health challenges.

“The focus this year is - ‘It’s all about HIM’ - everyone needs to give men’s health issues their undivided attention and to treat these as a priority concern.”