The first day of the EMHF Conference programme offered a reports and discussion on a wide-range of visionary men’s health initiatives from across Europe.
Dr Antoine Lamaire from the ADIRS (Association pour le Development de l’Information et de la Recherche sur la Sexualite) outlined his association’s work raising awareness of sexual dysfunction in France. Mark Ward of Men’s Health Forum Scotland introduced Scottish Well Men Clinics.
Delegates heard of new projects such as Austria’s first men’s health centre from Thomas Fröhlich of M.E.N. Vienna and the activities of one of the EMHF’s most recent recruits Real Men in Slovakia from the organisation’s president Dr Stefan Horváth.
National Men’s Health Week reports were given from Hungary by Professor János Métnéki of the Hungarian National Institute for Health and Development and Denmark by Svend Aage Madsen for the Men’s Health Society, Denmark.
Peter Baker of the Men’s Health Forum (England and Wales) discussed the importance of building effective partnerships while EMHF director Erick Savoye introduced delegates to the EU’s labrinthine lobbying system.
The second day focused on putting men’s health on the political agenda. Guest speakers included John Bowis, MEP, and Claudia Sedlmeir from the Austrian Ministry of Health who outlined her country’s health agenda for its EU presidency, and David Wilkins from the Men’s Health Forum (England and Wales) who introduced his organisation’s policy document, Getting It Sorted.
A questionnaire survey of delegates revealed the popularity of such meetings. They favoured future opportunities to meet together with organisations from across Europe) and further collective policy activities (such as production of the Declaration). There was also a call for more information material from the EMHF.
