Brooklyn Borough Pres. Holds 'Take Your Man to the Doctor' Campaign, 10/6

On Wednesday, October 6, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz will launch his ninth annual "Take Your Man to the Doctor" campaign with a press conference at Brooklyn Borough Hall. "Take Your Man to the Doctor" is a call to action for men of all ages, ethnicities, and economic levels to regularly visit a doctor, and for the women and men who love them to help make it happen. Participating Brooklyn hospitals, clinics and healthcare professionals will offer free health screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar, BMI, cholesterol, diabetes, glucose, glaucoma and HIV, as well as podiatry and free flu shots, and make important health information available onsite from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Borough Hall Plaza. A press conference will be held at 11 a.m.

Borough President Markowitz will be joined at the kickoff event by participating "Take Your Man to the Doctor" partners: NYC Dept. of Health, The Brooklyn Hospital, Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Coney Island Hospital, Interfaith Medical Center, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Kings County Hospital Center, Long Island College Hospital, Lutheran Medical Center, Maimonides Medical Center, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Woodhull Medical Center, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, MetroPlus Health Plan and Preferred Health Partners.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report Health, United States, 2009, men ages 18-44 years were 70 percent less likely to visit a physician than women. The report also indicates that men were 80 percent less likely to have a usual source of health care, as compared to women. Also in 2007, CDC surveys show that there were 351 physician or hospital visits per 100 males, as compared to 452 visits per 100 females. The CDC also states that men die from heart disease and chronic liver disease at nearly twice the rate of women. Source: www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/men.htm.

The 2008 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports found that Hispanic and Black men were less likely than White men to see a physician. This report shows that both Black and Hispanic men were about 10 percent less likely to have a usual primary care provider, as compared to the White population. In 2005, all men were 30 percent more likely to be uninsured for the previous year, as compared to women. Within that group, African American men were 75 percent more likely to be uninsured than White men, and Hispanic men were almost three times more likely to be without health insurance. Source: www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr08.htm.

In 2006, Borough President Markowitz learned firsthand the importance of regular checkups, early detection and preventative care when he experienced chest pains that resulted in an operation to insert a "stent." He finally went to the hospital only after his wife Jamie insisted.

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services recommends that men receive regular screenings for blood cholesterol, blood pressure, colorectal cancer, diabetes, depression, sexually transmitted diseases and prostate cancer. Source: www.ahrq.gov/ppip/healthymen.htm.