In honor of National Men’s Health Week, we want to encourage men in our community to make their health a priority.
June is National Men’s Health Month. Men’s HealthWeek is celebrated during the week leading up to and including Father’s Day and serves as a time to raise awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men.
Unfortunately, most men do not look at their health until they have an issue.
As I sat with Leon Montoya, Director of Education and Outreach with Women’s and Men’s Health Services, he explained what their clinic is doing to address men’s health.
Their goal is encourage men to take time to focus on themselves and take charge of their health so they can be the best husband, dad, brother and son. They are encouraging men to be seen in the clinic throughout the week and they even offer Saturday appointments.
Leon explained most men do not come in for a wellness check because they “don’t feel or see something wrong.”
The clinic offers preventative and primary care. Diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure checks are services they provide. They also have referral services to several community partners for additional services. Their Education department is out in the community and partnering with several agencies to education men and encouraging men to make their health a priority.
Leon has been in education in our community for over 14 years and believes educating men is just as important as educating women.
In honor of Men’s Health Week, WAMS will be partnering with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and will be offering assorted testing services. Their clinic will also have a male focus in their lobby to bring awareness to the importance of men getting their yearly check-ups. When men come in for a yearly check up they are given a bag full of items – including pamphlets addressing their specific health needs, vitamins and a list of apps to educate them about water intake, exercise and much more. The men are seen by medical professionals and given patient education on nutrition as well as referral services.
As women, we are accustomed to going to the doctor, but now men are being encouraged to take their health into their own hands. We want to encourage the men in our lives to exercise, eat well balanced meals and take the step to living a healthy life. Routine check ups are a must for men to live their best life!
