21/06/2026
MEN’S HEALTH WEEK: Dear Men — Strength Means Getting Checked. No One’s Too Tough for Illness
By Moses Ongomngole Adonyo | 3-Minute Read
Three years ago, I called a woman to follow up on her daughter who had been ill. She told me the girl had recovered and was already back in school. I was so glad.
But when I asked about her husband, a recently retired civil servant, she hesitated and said quietly, “That one isn’t feeling well… but as we speak, he’s out in the garden.”
I was shocked. When I asked why he hadn’t gone for a medical checkup, she replied, “He’s a grown man. He knows what he’s doing.” She later admitted what many wives know: no matter how much you plead, he still refuses to see a doctor.
The Disconnect
There’s a frightening gap between men and our health systems. Men generally die earlier, get sick at younger ages, and develop more chronic illnesses than women.
What’s Stopping Men From Accessing Healthcare?
Male resistance to healthcare is strongly tied to masculine pride and low health literacy.
1. The “strong man” myth: Many men want to appear tough and self-sufficient. But strength isn’t avoiding care — it’s facing problems early. Men delay checkups, saying they’re “too busy,” that ailments will heal on their own, or fearing weakness/embarrassment. Yet they’ll rush a wife or child to hospital without hesitation.
2. Low health awareness: Studies consistently show men know fewer disease warning signs and underestimate the value of early intervention.
These delays cost lives. Late diagnosis turns treatable conditions into deadly ones.
Men’s Health Week 2026
Every June, the world observes Men’s Health Week, organized by the Men’s Health Forum. The goal: raise awareness of preventable health problems that hit men hardest, and give men courage to act.
This year it runs from 15th–21st June. The theme is “One Step at a Time – Progress Not Perfection." The message is simple: you don’t need to change everything overnight. Start small, stay consistent.
Men and Mental Health
According to the Mental Health Foundation, about 1 in 8 men face common mental health issues like anxiety, stress, or depression. Left untreated, these worsen and affect everything — work, family, life.
What Can Be Done?
1. Speak up, with love: Friends, family, and partners can normalize health talks. Reduce the stigma. Invite, don’t shame.
2. Build health literacy: More education on symptoms and early care helps men act before it’s too late.
This cycle of men only going to hospital “to find out what will kill them” MUST STOP. Men’s health matters.
The writer is a Medical Imaging Expert, Community Health Advocate, and Team Leader at KLARA Diagnostic Clinic, Amuria.
