Jupiter Hospital Dedicates The Month of November To Men's Health

Health has always been an ignored topic of discussion among working class men in the city. Jupiter Hospital in Thane commemorated the month of November as Mo-vember, which is an annual global event involving the growing of moustaches to raise awareness about men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide. Doctors and male staff of Jupiter Hospital leveraged this campaign to create engaging conversations about men’s health and emphasize the need for regular screening amongst patients and relatives.

Creative communication and collaterals placed all over patient areas across the hospital created a high sense of curiosity among patients and relatives, which led them to ask questions about Movember. Most doctors and male staff donned moustaches throughout the month, which enabled them to steer conversations on the issue. “The whole rationale behind supporting Movember in the hospital was to sensitize men about prioritizing their health over their other responsibilities. When questioned about their ‘new look’, our doctors grabbed the opportunity to highlight the importance of screening of male cancers and other health issues that largely affect men” a spokesperson from Jupiter Hospital said.    

Doctors and all staff across the hospital also encouraged men to adopt a healthier lifestyle through various initiatives – one of them being a Walkathon that concluded the month of Movember. Education about fitness and quick tips to find time for own health in a hectic day’s schedule were shared by the 250 participants during the walkathon.

As part of the initiative, Jupiter Hospital also commissioned an online survey with the support of DigiThane which is Thane Smart City Limited’s digital app. The survey among men in the city primarily aims at understanding whether they prioritize their health and wellbeing among their other multiple responsibilities. The survey saw a participation of over 300 men from Thane within the age of 18 and above, primarily in private service and owners of businesses.

The findings revealed that health & wellbeing largely is the most ignored aspect of men’s lives. More than 70 per cent of the men who participated do not find the need to see a doctor unless very ill. A large number of participants were not aware of the most common cancers that affect men.

Emphasizing on the need for more awareness on cancer, Dr Swapnil Kapote, Onco surgeon at Jupiter Hospital says, “Incidence of cancer is steadily increasing in society. Cancers in men like oral cancers and prostate cancer are easily screened for by simple tests. Detection of these cancers at an early stage can completely cure them. Hence appropriate screening for all eligible men is mandatory”.

When asked about their ‘off-time’ or social time, close to 60 per cent dedicate less than 2-3 hours to friends and family. However, most of the time spent with family is during the night’s sleep.  Over 30 per cent of men either do not have any hobby or don’t have the time to pursue any. Around 40 per cent of men are hooked to social media or complete their official work during their travel time. Only 25 per cent of the total participants utilize their travel time as their ‘Me’ time, dedicating it to self’s mental wellbeing.

Dr Amit Saraf Physician at Jupiter Hospital Thane emphasizes on the ‘ME’ time as part of his consultation with all his working-class patients. “In the hectic routine which today’s every urban person follows, it’s difficult to implement ‘textbook’ medical advice as its many times impractical and not sustainable. Hence it’s advisable to use travel time for relaxation techniques such as meditation, breathing exercises etc. These suggestions on the face of it may sound not very doable, but regular practitioners of these techniques would beg to differ.” he says.