People of the male species, you know that medical appointment you were always going to make but don't because life gets in the way?
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Well now is the time to get a general health check with the Men's Health Education Rural Van as it comes to the Camden Haven this May with thanks to the Rotary Club of Laurieton.
The van will be parked on Bold Street near the old ANZ bank from 10 am until 4pm on May 24 and again on May 25 from 9am until 1pm.
Noel Hiffernan from the Rotary Club of Laurieton said the project has been a great success across NSW and is now coming to the region targeting men who keep putting off making that appointment.
"The Men's Health Education Rural Van started as a Rotary project aimed at getting more men checked by a doctor as a way to prevent serious health problems," Mr Hiffernan said.
"We target men because men are the ones who usually don't go and get that pain checked by a doctor or want to talk how they are feeling.
"Men are told to suck it up or harden up and soldier on and it is actually putting their lives at risk."
The project is designed to bring fast, free and basic health checks to men in rural areas who have not had the time or opportunity to have a health check.
The van has a full time registered male nurse who, with the occasional assistance of local community nurses, conduct health tests among rural men.
The tests - while simple - are in no way a substitute to seeing a general practitioner but designed to spark that conversation with men in the community.
"We all know that men are not good at taking care of their own health," he said.
"You don't need to book in, and these tests are simple, take less than 15 minutes and are totally confidential."
Most people were tested for body mass, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, urinalysis and some were also tested for skin issues and depression.
