CUPHD Asks Residents to “Wear BLUE” to Raise Awareness of Men’s Health Issues
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2009
Contact
Candi Crause, Director
(217) 531-5372 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
CUPHD Asks Residents to “Wear BLUE” to Raise Awareness of Men’s Health Issues
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Honor National Men’s Health Week with Screenings & Clinics
Champaign, IL – June 15-21 marks National Men’s Health Week. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) would like to ask local residents to “Wear BLUE” during this week to raise awareness and educate men, women, and their families of the need to end the silent crisis in Men’s Health. CUPHD would like to encourage local men to take advantage of blood-draw prostate cancer screenings for all men over the age of 40, as well as weekly Men’s Clinics held every Monday from 4:00 – 5:30pm at CUPHD located at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign.
“Many serious diseases can be detected early through simple screenings,” said Candi Crause, Director of Infectious Disease for CUPHD, “Some of the most deadly diseases in men show no outward symptoms until they have progressed significantly, making them difficult to treat. Early detection through routine screenings saves lives. CUPHD would like everyone to “Wear BLUE” this week to actively remind men to be screened.”
Statistics show that there is an on-going, increasing and predominately silent crisis in the health and well-being of men. Due to a lack of awareness, poor health education, and culturally induced behavior patterns in their work and personal lives, men’s health and well-being are deteriorating steadily.
- On average, men live 5 year less than women.
- 1 in 2 men will develop cancer in their lifetime.
- 1 in 6 men will get prostate cancer, and approximately 28,000 men will die from the disease.
- Men die at higher rates from 9 of the top 10 causes of death.
- Men make up over 92% of workplace deaths.
The “Wear BLUE” campaign was developed by the Men’s Health Network. The message is simple: “End the Silence” on Men’s health issues. The “Wear BLUE” campaign requests:
- Wear BLUE to remind men of the importance of remaining healthy.
- Wear BLUE and become a part of a national movement.
- Wear BLUE to let men know we care.
- Wear BLUE to keep men healthy and alive.
National Men’s Health Week, the week ending in Father’s Day is a special awareness period recognized by Congress each year. National Men’s Health Week was signed into law by President Clinton in 1994. Additional support comes from more than 45 governors who declare Men’s Health Week in their states, including Illinois.
For more information about Men’s Clinics and Screenings, or any other CUPHD programs and services, please call 217-352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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