Omony Denis
The Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Nwoya District, Michael Opwonya, has joined the growing calls for men to improve their health-seeking behavior and eating habits if they are to live longer and healthier.
According to reports, men generally exhibit poorer health-seeking behavior compared to women, often delaying care or avoiding check-ups due to masculinity norms, fear of diagnosis, and lower engagement with health services.
According to the National Housing and Population Census 2024 Report released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, women in Uganda continue to outlive men.
The UBOS data further indicates that the overall life expectancy at birth in 2024 rose to 68.2 years, up from 63.7 years in 2014.
However, life expectancy among men remains lower at 66.9 years compared to 70.1 years for women.
Speaking recently at Anaka General Hospital, Opwonya noted that many men are often too busy to prioritize their health adding that some neglect proper eating habits and delay seeking medical care even when they are unwell.
According experts, social constructs of masculinity encourage men to hide pain and avoid vulnerability, reducing the utilization of health services. Men often avoid testing or check-ups due to fear of discovering a health condition, epecially HIV.
