Assembly Resolution No. 588

BY: M. of A. Wright

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
June 12-18, 2017, as Men's Health Week in the State
of New York, in conjunction with the observance of
National Men's Health Month

WHEREAS, This year the marks the 25th Anniversary of the Men's
Health Network crossing a major milestone, they are celebrating 25 years
of advancing men's health and wellness; since their founding in 1992,
Men's Health Network remains the leading organization advocating on
behalf of men, boys, fathers, and their families through educational
materials and programs, health screenings, and policy initiatives; and

WHEREAS, June 12-18, 2017, marks the 23rd year for National Men's
Health Week, which its sole purpose is to heighten the awareness of
preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment
of disease among men and boys; and

WHEREAS, As we prepare to celebrate Father's Day and recognize the
important men in our lives, it is critical that we bring attention to
the unique health concerns that many men are faced with; on the average
a man's life expectancy is almost six years less than that of a woman;
we need to give particular emphasis to the importance of public
awareness and education so we can improve the life expectancy of our men
in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, National Men's Health Week was established by Congress in
1994 and urges men and their families to engage in appropriate health
behaviors; the resulting increased awareness has improved health-related
education and has helped prevent illness; and

WHEREAS, The shift to prevention requires not only changes in the
health care system, but also an awareness by the American public of the
importance of regular visits to their physicians; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing and preventing men's health problems is not
just a man's issue; because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters,
and sisters, men's health is truly a family issue; and

WHEREAS, Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men,
afflicting one out of every seven American men and killing 34,000 men
every year; for African-American men, the rate of affliction is even
worse; African-American men are 56% more likely to develop prostate
cancer compared with Caucasian men and nearly 2.5 times as likely to die
from the disease; in the past five years, the death rate for prostate
cancer has grown at almost twice the death rate of breast cancer; and

WHEREAS, Prostate cancer and many other health problems affecting
men could be avoided if men's awareness of health screening tests were
increased; heightening the awareness of preventable health problems and
increasing early detection and treatment of disease would significantly
improve our Nation's health, as well as save limited health care
dollars; and

WHEREAS, Women visit the doctor 150 percent as often as men,
enabling them to detect health problems in their early stages; and

WHEREAS, Significant numbers of male related health problems such as
prostate cancer, testicular cancer, infertility, and colon cancer, could
be detected and treated if men's awareness of these problems was more
pervasive; and

WHEREAS, Educating both the public and health care providers about
the importance of early detection of male health problems will result in
reducing rates of mortality for these diseases; and

WHEREAS, Appropriate use of tests such as Prostate Specific Antigen
(PSA) exams, blood pressure screens, cholesterol screens, etc., in
conjunction with clinical examination and self-testing for problems such
as testicular cancer can result in the detection of many of these
problems in their early stages and increases the survival rates to
nearly 100 percent; and

WHEREAS, Many men are reluctant to visit their health center or
physician for regular screening examinations of male related problems
for a variety of reasons including fear, lack of information, and cost
factors; and

WHEREAS, Men who are educated about the value that preventative
health can play in prolonging their lifespan and their role as a
productive family member will be more likely to participate in health
screenings; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 12-18, 2017, as
Men's Health Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Men's Health Week; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.