Vision

All male residents made aware of their role in the family health and given access to reproductive health services.

Mission

To include men in all family planning and reproductive health decisions that will promote the overall health of men.

Overview

Traditionally, it was believed that men had little or no genuine interests in health issues, especially reproductive health and family planning. Perhaps as a result of this belief (and no doubt further compounding it), many health services and programmes have not been perceived as “male friendly”. Fortunately, the misconceptions regarding male involvement in health are changing. Men are partners in reproduction; therefore they must play a significant role in family planning programmes. The Ministry of Health recognises that:

• Males are more interested in health and health information than is often assumed, and, as such, cannot be
  excluded from or denied the right to all health services, including reproductive health and family planning services.
• Men have their own unique health needs and often these are not met in or at the traditional, established facilities.
• Males, especially adolescents, need to be more aware of their sexual health and responsibility.

The Male Health Initiative, a component of the Ministry of Health’s Family Planning & Reproductive Health Programme, was launched in response to a call sounded at the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo) 1994, for the greater involvement of males in reproductive health.

The needs of males must be addressed and must become a matter of urgency to ensure the success of our efforts in family planning and population control and preserve the integrity of the family unit. The Male Health Initiative is a vehicle that should strengthen and further propel this change.

Objectives

• Promote abstinence and the delay of sexual intercourse as the first choice to combat sexually transmitted infections(STIs) among younger men.
• Educate males (young men in particular) about their sexual and social responsibilities.
• Encourage planned families in which both parents are active participants in child rearing.
• Provide male oriented services, including education, prevention and treatment of STIs.
• Train clergy, social and health workers about methods of “reaching” males and the “male psyche”.
• Use mass media to raise men’s awareness of reproductive health.

It is hoped that through the efforts of the Initiative, the following would be observed and experienced:

1. Increased rate of preventive, medical exams and screenings by men.
2. Greater active and positive participation of males in family communication and planning.
3. Establishment of primary care services exclusively for males.
4. A greater participation of adult men volunteering to help with “at risk” young men.
5. A healthier portrayal of men as fathers, husbands, providers and caregivers healthcare marketing and media in general.
6. Mass media campaigns promoting the benefits of male involvement in reproductive health.
7. More information, education, and communication programme for males at every stage of growth and development.
8. Increased partnership with Prison Health Programme.
9. Increased male health advocacy.

For more information, please contact:

Male Health
The Department of Public Health
Poncianna Hill Building
Meeting Street
P. O. Box N-3730
Nassau, N.P.
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 502-4835
Fax.(242) 502-4874
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays