The EMHF have been approached to contribute to the 2007 EU Global Health Report which, it is understood, will include a specific chapter on gender issues.
Following the first ever EU presidency conference on men’s health held in Portugal last month, a communication for information will be prepared for the Portuguese Presidency and the final conclusions of the EU Global Health Report will be presented under the French EU Presidency.
During the opening session of the congress, Dr Francisco George, Director General of the Department of Health, read a declaration officially recognising men’s health as a national public health priority and launching a new group, the Portuguese Men’s Health Forum.
The congress recommended that the European Commission should consider the co-funding of a European men’s health report as part of its 2008 work plan. This major recommendation will be supported by a motion for information to the Council of Health Ministers which will be held this month under the Portuguese Presidency.
The EMHF’s Vienna Declaration on the basis of which this event was developed also received some major support with the key signatures of Dr Francisco George and the High Commissioner for Health, Professor Maria do Céu Machado. Representing the Minister of Health of Brazil, Professor Otaliba Libânio quoted the Vienna Declaration as a key reference for the improvement of men’s health in his country.
Over the two days of this congress, four plenary sessions and 15 parallel sessions were held. In total, 56 presentations were proposed to over 230 participants. There were 17 presentations on men’s health, 6 of which offered an international perspective. National presentations reflected a broad and solid expertise base covering issues such as sexual health, use of health services, access to specialised care, male mortality and morbidity data, health literacy and migrant children in Portugal.
Professor Paolo Ferrinho very kindly accepted the EMHF’s invitation to join its Advisory Board. It is hoped that men’s health will also be on the agenda during the 2008 conference of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) in Lisbon.
Picture captions
From top to bottom: the plenary sesssion; EMHF president Dr Ian Banks; Francisco George, Director General of the Portuguese Department of Health; and Portuguese High Commissioner for Health, Professor Maria do CÈu Machado signing the EMHF’s Vienna Declaration
