Following last's 'trial' of man, the EMHF returns to Gastein this year with another ground-breaking look at men's health: a balloon debate.
This year's European Health Forum will see an exciting lunch time workshop conducted in a hot air balloon basket with room for, amongst others, MEPs and senior policy makers, NGOs, health professionals and journalists. The balloon master will attempt to prevent the balloon from crashing to Earth by generating as much hot air as possible from the audience.
Given the terrible and weighty baggage of men's health it may prove necessary to throw members of a panel of stakeholders over board. Basket safety will therefore depend on the quality and relevance of their brief presentations at each round of voting decision from the audience. They will need to demonstrate the value of their respective organisations to improving men's health. Eventually only one panellist will remain to pop the Champagne.
Questions to be considered include:
- What are voluntary organisations doing to highlight mens health?
- Is there enough attention from politicians?
- Has industry grasped the nettle of work place health?
- What role does sport play in promoting male health?
- Does better health literacy have a place?
- Can the pharmacy help?
- Do men use medicines to their best advantage?
'Please bring your own parachute,' said EMHF president Dr Ian Banks, pictured above at last year's event, 'and don't stand underneath the balloon as these are heavy-weight experts. If last year's event was anything to go by, we expect a lively and forthright debate with a serious opportunity to highlight men's health work from those best qualified to know with their thoughts focused by the prospect of a long drop.'
