The EMHF once again made its presence felt at the World Congress on Men’s Health in Vienna in October running two sessions and hosting a meeting of its network.
At the International Policy and Advocacy plenary session, the new international policy review, edited by the EMHF was launched. The session, which was chaired by EMHF president Dr Ian Banks, pictured right with the review, was addressed by: David Wilkins, the policy officer fromMHF England and Wales who wrote the introduction to the review; EMHF director Erick Savoye, who wrote the conclusion; and, Noel Richardson from the Institute of Technology Carlow in Dublin, Ireland who spoke about his country’s new men’s health policy.
A full report on the review itself, Men’s Health Around the World: a review of policy and progress across 11 countries, appears elsewhere on this website.
The EMHF also hosted a session on Evolving Tactics to Primary Care Delivery at which the speakers were Ian Banks and EMHF board member Professor Alan White. The session was chaired by Erick Savoye and April Young, a cultural anthropologist from the Collins Center for Public Policy in Florida, USA, pictured left.The session demonstrated the benefits of delivering primary care in non-conventional settings such as the workplace and sports venues.
Network meeting: 'best yet'
The Forum’s network meeting showcased good practice including presentation on workplace health check-ups, working with homeless men in Vienna) and Men's Health Week, both past successes and plans for the future. Next year Italy will take part in the Week for the first time thanks to new EMHF member LILT (the Italian Cancer League).
Representatives from the UK and Ireland presented their strategies to put men's health on the policy agenda. In Ireland there is a men’s health policy. In the UK there is not and given the successes the Men’ Health forums in the UK have had in mainstreaming men’s health, there is currently no call for one. This issue was previously discussed in an editorial on this site: Does your country need a national men's health policy? The merits of the two approaches and how they might work in other countries were discussed.
The EMHF also introduced the network to various EU research projects in which the Forum is a partner including Value +, ENGENDER and a forthcoming review of men’s health across Europe to be undertaken by Professor Alan White at Leeds Metropolitan University. Members expressed strong interest in becoming more involved in research projects.
The meeting was one of the best network gathering yet with many members expressing an interest in increasing the number of meetings from the current one a year. ‘It was the best meeting we have had and has produced so much in terms of taking things forward,’ said Ian Banks. ‘Everyone I spoke to said how much they enjoyed our meetings. I look forward to more of the same.
Participants' feedback
- Men's Health Clinics, Netherlands:
‘It was nice meeting you and put a face to name. It was a fruitful discussion with bringing up ideas for further work. There is still a lot to do.’ - MHF Ireland:
‘The programme was a great success and accomodation was excellent.
I particularly found the discussion groups lively and interesting. Perhaps more time for discussion could be allocated next year.’ - MHF England and Wales, UK:
‘The Network meeting was very well organised. I really enjoyed the whole thing and I thought the discussions really helped us make progress. I find it very encouraging to meet colleagues from elsewhere in Europe who are trying to tackle the same issues as us.’ - MHSD, Denmark:
‘Thank you for organising our network meeting. It was very well organised and I enjoyed being together with all the good people interested in and fighting for men's health. I think this network meeting really brought us further on in many aspects of our work.’ - Reform, Norway:
‘This was really a well organized, interesting and most joyful network meeting. Thank you!’ - M.E.N, Austria:
‘It was a very good, inspiring and motivating meeting! I took so much ideas and impulses and looking forward to keep you informed about the things developing here in Vienna.’
