East Belfast Community Development Agency

The opportunity to follow up on questioning a panel of MLAs as part of EBCDA’s lobbying course will be taken by the Network.  Contact has been made with Dawn Purvis MLA who offered to meet members of the Network with further meetings with MLAs planned for the future.  Two questions will be explored; Do MLAs believe the time is ripe now for national screening of all men aged 50+ in relation to Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test? and Do MLAs believe that a similar organization to that of Women’s Aid should be set up to offer support and advice to men subjected to domestic violence?  Assistance was provided to compile a briefing paper which was circulated to the membership which is on average 100 men.  Membership of nine local men’s groups in postcode districts of BT4,5,6 and 16 is encouraging with men using the skills they have learned in trades to volunteer and run their local men’s groups.

Men’s health does not exist in a vacuum and it is in the context of culture that men’s health issues are being taken forward.  The Network was encouraged by its small, but successful from the Networks point of view, case finding in the community pilot men’s clinic.  There is ongoing contact and support from mental health staff from Woodstock Lodge who carry out cholesterol and blood pressure tests at health fairs.  Taking the pilot to the next stage is a challenge for the Network with so many changes to existing staff in the health service.  The Nursing Department at the City Hospital has shown an interest in promoting the work and links are being established with nursing staff at the Mater Hospital.  Following on from two successful community health initiatives with the cancer department of the City Hospital and a health workshop at Dee Street a third clinic on mental health is being organised for members on 26th October 2009.

Further information can be obtained from the Network's website: www.wise-men.org.uk