INTERNATIONAL MEN'S HEALTH WEEK

1 JUNE 2008 (U.S.A.) -- Men's health issues will take center stage during International Men's Health Week from 7 June 2008 through 14 June 2008. Why? Heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, prostate cancer, hypertension, and Alzheimer's Disease are just a few of the unique health issues that confront men in the Millennium. According to the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, 1 in 10 men are at risk worldwide for Alzheimer's Disease. The World Health Organization also estimates that at least 18,000,000 individuals worldwide currently have Alzheimer's Disease and it is predicting that this number will rise to 34,000,000 by 2025. In the United States, it is estimated that at least 10,000,000 Baby Boomers will develop Alzheimer's Disease. Prostate Cancer accounts for 9% of all cancer-related deaths in men according to the American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society also estimates that at least 186,320 new cases of prostate cancer will be reported in 2008 and that 28,660 prostate cancer patients in the United States will die in 2008.


Men worldwide are pushing for more research, research funding and the creation of and greater access to preventative health and medical information, resources and support services. In the United States, the push continues for the establishment of an Office of Men's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services which would be a conduit for preventative health and medical resources and support services and serve as an advocate for the resolution of men's unique health issues in the same manner that the Office of Women's Health promotes preventative health and medical resources and support services for women and their unique health issues. For further information about the establishment of an Office of Men's Health in the United States and what you can do to make this a reality, visit the website of the Men's Health Network at http://menshealthnetwork.org.


Want to know more about International Men's Health Week? Contact one of the following organizations:


IN SCOTLAND:

Men's Health Forum Scotland, Unit 16, Wellpark Enterprise Centre, 120 Sydney Street, Glasglow G31 1JF, Telephone: 0141 550 7515, E-MAIL: info@mhfs.org.uk


IN SWITZERLAND:

World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland, Telephone: 011 41 22 791 2111, Facsimile: 011 41 22 79 1311


IN THE UNITED STATES:

Men's Health Network - Post Office Box 75792, Washington, DC 20037, Telephone: 202-543-6461, Facsimile: 202-534-2727, E-MAIL: info@menshealthnetwork.org.

Health In Prisons Project - Regional Offices for the Americas/Pan American Health Organizations - 523 23rd Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20037, Telephone: 202-974-3000, Facsimile: 202-974-3663.