Abuja: Unarguably, men’s health often receives less attention than that of women in spite of unique issues that require awareness. Medical experts say men face key health concerns and are predisposed to heart disease, which develops earlier due to high blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, and poor diets.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, prostate cancer, the second most common cancer in men, requires regular screenings while benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can cause urinary issues in older men. Mental health is also critical, as men are more likely to die by suicide, often showing depression through irritability or risk-taking. Unfortunately, stigma prevents many men from seeking help. Testicular cancer, common in men aged 15-35, requires early detection, while erectile dysfunction (ED) is often linked to heart disease and diabetes. Additionally, men are more prone to accidents and injuries, particularly in high-risk jobs or sports, making safety and prevention crucial.
John, a 55-year-old construction worker, considered himself healthy and rarely visited the doctor, dismissing minor symptoms as part of aging. However, a routine checkup encouraged by his wife revealed an elevated PSA level, leading to further tests that confirmed prostate cancer. “I was shocked; I had no symptoms; if my wife had not pushed me to go to the doctor, I would not have known; early detection saved my life,” he said. John’s story highlights the importance of regular checkups and screenings, even when no symptoms are present.
Experts are calling for a targeted approach to improving men’s physical and mental well-being. They emphasize the critical role of early detection in the successful treatment of conditions like prostate and testicular cancer. Medical practitioners also recommend regular checkups, screenings, and adopting a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, exercise, and smoking cessation. They say breaking the stigma surrounding discussions of health and mental well-being is essential as workplace health programmes; offering support and screenings can further enhance men’s health.
Organisations such as the Waka Community International Foundation and Novo Health Africa are taking proactive steps to raise awareness of men’s health issues, particularly those related to male reproductive health. Lorenz Mba, founder of the Waka Community International Foundation, stressed the importance of addressing prostate, testicular, and breast cancers, as well as erectile dysfunction. Mba highlighted that many men die from these conditions due to their reluctance to seek help or lack of understanding about early detection. The foundation’s ‘Waka for Men’s Health’ walk aims to raise awareness and encourage early detection.
According to Mba, prostate cancer, which commonly affects men over 40, is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men of colour. Testicular cancer, though rarer, is easier to detect through self-examination. Meanwhile, Dr Dorothy Jeff-Nnamani, Managing Director of Novo Health Africa, harped on the importance of annual checkups for men, particularly starting in their 40s. She advocates regular screening tests like the PSA test and urges the government to support fitness programmes and health awareness campaigns.
Retired Rear Admiral Chris Ezekobe highlighted the role of exercise in reducing the likelihood of many diseases, including prostate cancer. He encouraged young men to participate in sports to maintain their health and reduce their susceptibility to various diseases.
A Consultant Psychiatrist, Prof. Taiwo Sheikh, has urged the Federal Government to pay attention to mental health by creating a sustainable mental health delivery system for the country. Sheikh, the Coordinator of Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group, urged the government to ensure that citizens had access to good mental healthcare, which could only be achieved with a sustainable mental health delivery system. According to him, the governments should pay attention to the mental health of the citizens by ensuring the availability of quality mental health facilities and services.
The psychiatrist emphasized that more attention should be given to the mental health of the people to reduce the rate of social vices in society. “If the government can pay attention to mental health by providing sustainable and accessible mental health services, citizens will begin to enjoy optimal mental health well-being. Implementation of the Mental Health Act, subsidizing the drugs and integration of mental health services among others are necessary in order to promote good mental health status for the country. These, I believe will invariably reduce the rate of social vices in the country to a great extent.”
Sheikh, who decried the poor state of the few existing psychiatric hospitals/facilities, urged government at all levels to intensify more efforts toward the establishment of more psychiatric hospitals across the country. “When you look at mental health programming within Nigeria, traditionally like anywhere else in the world, it has been poorly funded over the years. Most states in the country do not have a functional psychiatric hospital, while the few existing psychiatric hospitals are dilapidated, and we have very few specialized cadres.”
Sheikh said that establishment of more psychiatric hospitals had become necessary due to the increasing cases of mental illness in the country as the mental health facilities available were inadequate to cater to the rising cases. He lamented that the majority of the health care institutions in the country paid less attention to mental health cases. According to him, mental health services are barely accessible outside the state capitals, adding that there is urgent need to establish mental healthcare facilities at the grassroots.
“There’s need for the establishment of more mental health facilities, particularly in the rural areas. The truth is that the government may not be able to do enough in tackling the menace of mental health because it does not have enough resources for that. But, while the government is doing what it can, the private sector, non-governmental organisations and individuals must come together to address the treatment gap in mental health and provide facilities for those who need treatment before they fall into the wrong hands.”
According to him, it is critical that people living with mental health conditions have continued access to treatment and care. “A failure to take people’s mental and emotional wellbeing seriously will lead to long-term social and economic costs to the economy,” Sheikh said.
Also, the Life After Abuse Foundation (LAAF), an NGO, has called for strategies to address systemic inequities in men’s mental health. LAAF President, Ms Halima Layeni, a global advocate for men’s mental health equity, said it could be achieved by promoting universal access to healthcare and culturally responsive mental health interventions for men. She lamented that cultural norms often prevent men from seeking help, leading to unaddressed mental health issues and violence.
Layeni also stressed the importance of reshaping societal perceptions of fatherhood and providing men with the tools to thrive mentally and emotionally. The LAAF president pointed out that men in Nigeria were facing a range of severe and often overlooked issues, including violence-such as domestic abuse and assault-that remained underreported due to entrenched societal stigmas. “Men also experience alarmingly high rates of depression and suicide, exacerbated by societal expectations and a lack of targeted support. Economic instability further compounds these challenges, depriving many men of crucial opportunities for skill development and economic empowerment. In spite of these struggles, men continue to fulfill their roles as providers, breadwinners, husbands, and fathers, often shouldering these burdens silently,” she said.
Layeni emphasized the need to identify key challenges, foster collaborations and develop actionable recommendations for policymakers, organisations, and individuals. She underscored the need for fair legal frameworks that support men’s mental health in family-related matters, calling for collective action to dismantle stigma and ensure men have access to the care they need. Layeni also emphasized the urgent need for increased funding for accessible mental health services tailored to men’s needs. She called on both federal and state governments to combat stigma, integrate mental health support into healthcare systems, and prioritize early intervention and community-based support.
Layeni said enhancing economic stability was crucial and involved creating targeted opportunities for skill development, entrepreneurship, and career advancement, which would improve economic prospects for men. She said that addressing violence against men required the creation of robust mechanisms for reporting and support, ensuring that male victims of violence received necessary protection and justice. It is stakeholders view that while men strive to live up to their responsibilities, they should adopt a healthy lifestyle, take their mental health seriously, and seek help when in dire straits.