The Metro Men’s Health Centre at the Karl Bremer Hospital in Cape Town was officially opened in November last year as part of “Movember”.
“This creates a safe, comfortable space for the client to share their health problems. In 2016/2017, the management team of [the] Northern and Tygerberg sub-structure of Western Cape Health The aim was to prevent and reduce new HIV, and sexually transmitted infections by 50% between 2011 and 2015. According to the latest estimates from the Thembisa model, the leading mathematical model of HIV in South Africa, around 40.9% of men aged 15 to 49 have been circumcised in the Western Cape. Of the country’s nine provinces, only the Northern Cape at 37% has a worse record.
Traditionally our fathers used to discourage us from going to the clinic. A clinic is often viewed as a place [for] women.Praising the opening of the men’s health centre as an initiative that is long-overdue, Dyasi says it will go a long way in encouraging men to take their health seriously and changing their behaviour and attitude towards taking care of their health.
“Traditionally our fathers used to discourage us from going to the clinic. A clinic is often viewed as a place [for] women. And as such most men pretend to be strong and that they can take it even if it’s painful. So they end up using traditional medicine or even healing themselves instead of going to the clinics. Long queues are also discouraging men. They see it as a waste of time because they want to go and hustle for their families.