The Assin Fosu Municipal Health Director, Mr. Benjamin Amoako, has revealed that out of over 141,000 people who sought medical care at various health facilities within the municipality in 2024, only 33 percent were men.
According to him, this statistic clearly shows that men’s attitude toward healthcare remains poor and needs urgent attention.
Mr. Amoako attributed the situation to several societal misconceptions about masculinity, which discourage men from seeking medical help. He explained that many men feel embarrassed to discuss their health issues, especially when the attending doctor is a woman.
To address this challenge, the Health Directorate, in collaboration with the Assin Fosu Polyclinic, has introduced a Men’s Clinic, a special initiative aimed at encouraging men to seek medical attention and receive treatment for ailments that commonly affect them, particularly in their old age.
He made this disclosure during a durbar attended by chiefs, nurses, and residents of Assin Fosu to inaugurate new facilities and services at the Assin Fosu Polyclinic.
Mr. Amoako also used the occasion to advise nurses and doctors in the municipality to exercise patience and professionalism when dealing with patients. He further urged residents to report any misconduct by healthcare workers to the appropriate authorities rather than engaging in confrontations at hospital premises.
Speaking at the same event, the former Assin Fosu Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Nicholas Fiifi Baako, appealed to men in the municipality to regularly visit health facilities, especially the Assin Fosu Polyclinic, to check their health status. He expressed concern about the high rate of male deaths in the area, noting that many of these could be prevented through regular medical checkups.
The Medical Superintendent of the Assin Fosu Polyclinic, Dr. Agyeman Prempeh, also explained in an interview the scope of the facility’s expansion and the new services added to improve healthcare delivery in the municipality.
