SINT MAARTEN LIONS CLUB “MEN’S HEALTH MATTERS MAN UP! CHECK UP!” | SOUALIGA NEWSDAY

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – June is observed as National Men’s Health Month! In recognition of this, the Sint Maarten Lions Club in collaboration with the Positive and Elektralyets Foundation have organized an information session entitled “Men’s Health Matters Man Up, Check Up!” with a focus on prostate cancer awareness.

This event is aimed at raising awareness of avoidable health challenges and encourage early detection and treatment of ailment amongst men in our community with special attention to prostate cancer. We are inviting all men, to attend this event and to spread the word to their colleagues, friends and loved ones.

The Men’s Health Matters – Man Up, Check Up Information session will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2021 from 7pm – 9pm at the Lions Civic Center in Suckergarden. Featured Guest Speakers will be: Dr. Ramos, a Urologist at the St. Maarten Medical Center, Michael Ferrier a prostate cancer survivor, Raymond Benjamin a prostate cancer warrior and Julian Rollocks former teacher at MPC and men’s health advocate.

There will also be a question-and-answer segment to give the attendees a chance to ask pertinent questions to our guest speakers. The evening will end with refreshments, snacks educational material and free giveaways.

The venue, the Lions Civic Center, will be set to accommodate 60 persons at the Lions Civic Center in Suckergarden on a first come, first serve basis. So, you are encouraged to come out early. We will be ensuring that all the COVID 19 protocols are followed. The Men’s Health Matters – Man Up, Check Up Information session will also be live streamed via YouTube and the St. Maarten Lions Club Facebook page so that men in our community are given every opportunity to be informed and aware of the importance of getting checked and staying in tune with their health.

The links will be provided in the week leading up to the event. You can help spread the message of the importance of men’s health by using the hashtags: #Menshealthmatters #Manupcheckup. Due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, many community awareness programs conducted by organizations like the Sint Maarten Lions Club, Positive and Elektralyets Foundations have been impacted negatively.

Sint Maarten Lions Club’s was not able to host its annual Rudy Hoeve Health and Wellness Fair, held every March, for the last two years. The Positive and Elektralyets Foundations have opted to placed banners and posters around St. Maarten of PINK and BLUE faces instead of hosting its usual month-long calendar of events in September and October.

The Pink and Blue Faces are women and men in our community that have volunteered to be part of the ongoing campaign to inspire, stimulate and strengthen the call to action to help save lives in St. Maarten.

The Sint Maarten Lions Club, the Positive and Elektralyets Foundations are eager to host the Men’s Health Matters – Man Up, Check Up event on June 19,2021 which will focus on prostate cancer awareness.

Many of us may have overlooked getting our annual physical because of the challenges associated with the pandemic, while some of us may have questioned why you should see your doctor for an annual physical exam, if you are feeling generally healthy. One good reason is checking in with your primary care physician can confirm that you have no underlying health risks that need attention. Or an exam may lead to an early-stage diagnosis of some kind, which means you could receive treatment sooner with better outcomes.

We urge all men to take charge of their health. Get to know the risks involved and the importance of getting an annual prostate exam. It is a call to action to save lives. The foundations are encouraging the men in our community to bring another male friend, colleague or loved one to this event.

The foundations are hoping through education, support, and opportunities where men can have a conversation with men who understand the importance of getting checked. A call to action by prostate cancer survivors, warriors, and health care providers is aimed at breaking the taboo of prostate cancer and save lives in our community.