Senator Crapo Answers Call for Action to Address Crisis in Men's Health; Introduces Bill to Establish 'Office of Men's Health'

5/9/2003

From: Megan Smith of the Men's Health Network 202-543-6461 ext. 103 Web: http://www.menshealthnetwork.org

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- In response to an article in the American Journal of Public Health and a recent men's health initiative by the Kellogg Foundation, Senator Michael Crapo (R-ID) has introduced Senate Bill 1028, the "Men's Health Act of 2003" to address this growing public health crisis.

"The health disparity between men and women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds continues to exist in terms of health and mortality," said Megan Smith, director of project development for MHN. "Now more than ever steps are needed to improve on these numbers. Establishing an 'Office of Men's Health' is the logical place to start."

The legislation would establish an Office of Men's Health within the Department of Health and Human Services for the purpose of promoting men's health in the United States. The bill was recently introduced in the House by Representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) with a bipartisan core group of 41 original co-sponsors.

Statistics show that increased research, prevention and awareness are key to improving health. According to a recent report from the U.S. Center for Disease Control, women's life expectancy rose from 79.7 to 79.8 years. White women have the highest life expectancy, 80.2 years, followed by black women (75.5 years), white men (75 years) and black men (68.6 years).

"This is a crucial step in giving men's health issues the prominence they deserve. Senator Crapo is to be congratulated for his support for the creation of this important office," said William F. Gee, M.D., chair of the American Urological Association Health Policy Council. "It's important that men's health issues be brought into the public spotlight at the national level."

"Illness and disease among men have significant impact on every facet of society," said Jean Bonhomme, MD, MPH and Men's Health Network Board Member. "Women and children are affected economically and emotionally by men's unnecessary disability and premature death as well as by health care costs. An Office of Men's Health has great potential for uplifting the health status of our nation as a whole."

The office will be designed to monitor and coordinate efforts to improve the health and well-being of men by streamlining government efforts on the federal and state levels in the areas of prevention, health education, outreach, and research. You can learn more by visiting the Men's Health Office Resource Center at http://www.menshealthoffice.info. This office will mirror the existing Office of Women's Health, which was established in the early 1990s, and has already improved the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of women.

------ The Men's Health Network was created in 1991 by nationally recognized men's advocates to provide a voice for those concerned about the growing men's health crisis. It is an informational and educational organization that recognizes men's health as a specific social concern and is committed to promoting issues affecting men's health and the health and well-being of their families and can be reached at 202-543-6461 ext. 101.