MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Cultural change is needed, not more clinics”

Offering cheap or free access to indoor sports facilities would be a better move to improving the nation's health than establishing ?well men clinics' said the Falkland Islands' Chief Medical Officer adding that “as a country the Falklands give out all the wrong messages”.

Discussing a query about men's health screening, Dr Roger Diggle told the Health Committee last week that the primary causes of death in men is and cancer with the main causes of these conditions being smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, obesity and alcohol.

He commented that while the Stanley hospital does offer screening for selected conditions, he did not recommend the establishment of well man clinics.

Dr. Diggle said screening the population is "...not the most effective way of addressing the issues" and what is required is "...a change in cultural attitudes."

Dr Diggle stressed that as a country the Falklands give out all the wrong messages: alcohol is cheap, healthy foods are expensive, healthy leisure facilities are expensive and limited in their range of activities offered and people drive everywhere.

He told the Health Committee, "In my opinion, if government wishes to address the health of the adult male population, they need to offer cheap or free indoor sports facilities, all weather outdoor facilities and other leisure facilities that are alcohol and smoke free.

"These facilities need to be offered in a format that attracts the teenage population so that it becomes a way of life from an early age."

He concluded, "If government were to address health in this much wider (and possibly more radical) way, I believe it would be a far more effective intervention than any consultation with the health service." (PN).-