The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, will this Saturday, 10 March 2012, challenge men in the church to play a meaningful role in leading campaigns that seek to promote responsible and health seeking behaviour.
The MEC will visit the KwaMashu Christian Centre at 09h00 to speak to men. The MEC is also available for interviews.
There are many reasons why the church can realise its important role in combating the pandemic of social ills. As such it will need a lot of physical, emotional care and support from the family, the community and the church. Congregations are known to be the only caring organisation found to be in communities.
The MEC believes "involving men in the prevention, care and support of those affected by disease and other social ills is one of the ways of bringing change. Men are the key decision-makers in all aspects of the society and have the power to protect themselves and their partners. Engaging men in giving care brings them face to face with the realities of ill-health and disease, and thus the need for change."
Men's participation in dialogue, giving personal testimonies and analysis of things that are happening to men and boys in families and in society is one of the effective strategies that the MEC hopes to use to help others to change their behaviour.
In most societies, women have support groups and more openly share information and concerns than men. Men and boys have been socialised to believe they know more than women, and therefore feel threatened when women know more.
"Creating forums for men to share, discuss and agree on action is an effective way of mobilising their support and changing their attitudes and behaviour," says MEC Dhlomo.
This men's initiative will particularly target men in faith based organisations. Commitment and local ownership of this initiative is important, and so is the involvement from the top, recognising that men at every level are instrumental to the success of prevention and support programs.
