To ask the Minister of Health to detail the steps he is taking to highlight the importance of men’s health and to encourage men to seek medical diagnoses when symptoms are present.

A number of initiatives aimed at promoting and improving men’s health are funded/co-ordinated by the Public Health Agency. These include male-specific health checks in Healthy Living Centres; a Farm family health check programme; investment in sexual health clinics for Men who have sex with Men (MSM); Men’s health checks online, as well as Low Threshold Services as part of drugs and alcohol services; a wide range of health promotion based activity programmes specifically for males such as horticulture, angling, walking, football, music, arts, and sports; training programmes in HSC Trusts focusing on engaging men on mental health and emotional wellbeing; and Men’s Health Week support by local Connections teams and PHA-funded Council staff.

The PHA also provides funding for the Men’s Shed movement which supports key priorities of tackling health inequalities, reducing isolation and loneliness, and promoting positive mental health.

The Diabetes Prevention Programme NI supports men at risk of developing type 2 diabetes to reduce their risk through lifestyle choices supported by health coaching, and an early diagnosis cancer campaign was delivered in 2021 through the Living Well service. This campaign engaged with men to provide information on cancers, including male-specific cancers, and their signs and symptoms.