A symbol that can only be described as phallic has been erected in southern Germany. At eleven metres high and weighing over 4.5 tons, the Urolisk – which translates roughly as the ‘Obelisk of Urology’ – is surely the biggest monument to men’s health in the world. It's certainly the biggest contribution to awareness-raising.
The Urolisk, which has already been exhibited in many other German cities, made it to Munich on 7-8 October bringing together doctors, economists, artists and celebrities – including legendary World Cup-winning goal-keeper Sepp Maier – around the theme of prostate cancer prevention.
The "Initiative Männergesundheit" (the Men’s Health Initiative) aims to sensitise men to the need to take care of their prostate and have regular check-ups. Although prostate cancer kills 12,000 German men each year, only one in five men consult a urologist annually.
Alongside the exhibition of the sculpture, advice and free consultations were provided to the general public by urologists.
The Urolisk campaign was launched in Hamburg in September 2003 place during the German Congress on Cancer when 700 urologists in gloves and helmets put the obelisk up in the main square of the city. Since then, it has visited several cities including Berlin, Vienna and Bremen.
