Participants light candles during International Men’s Day 2024 at The Little Theatre Club Mombasa|Photo Courtsy Stephanie Maseki
Kenyan men marked this year’s international Men’s Day on 19th November, 2024 in style and with calls on Kenyan women to support their male counterparts in fight against mental disorders and prostate cancer which is mostly common among men.
The event marked annually as a global awareness day for many issues that men face, including abuse, homelessness, suicide, and violence, encourages men to teach the boys in their lives the values, character and responsibilities of being a man.
In Mombasa, iTana Kenya Foundation, a Mombasa based organization that uses artistic performances to depict Mental illnesses as catastrophic conditions in Kenya, hosted several artists and content creators in open discussions to mark the day in style.
The discussions held at the famous Little Theatre Club in Mombasa touched on cancer and mental health challenges which are especially pressing men mostly young creatives, leading to often-unseen struggles among them, from managing families and finances, to the constant quest for belonging.
The talks mainly focused on mental health conversations dubbed “Redefining Man Up, Ball Up” under #BehindClosedHearts, specifically tailored to promote the life of a male artist in particular, faced with mental health challenges such as depression and stress disorders.
iTana Kenya Foundation Director Stephanie Maseki led the event to encourage men , young male artist in particular to show their manliness by speaking out about issues affecting them and standing together in redefining their strength as they continue to promote family unity and social health values in the society.
“When men endure in silence, the ripple reaches us all. Let’s stand together, redefine strength, and lift the weight” says the Mombasa’s famous Actor (Stage & Screen) and Mental Health Advocate @iTana_Kenya.
Stephanie, also a Kenya Film Classification Board Director asked men to open their heart and talk freely about issues that are especially pressing for them saying no man faced with current socio-economic challenges should be left behind to suffer from stress and depressions.
“I know how it feels to be completely broken inside but everyone thinks you have it all together. When someone dares to ask, “Are you okay?” That’s when all hell breaks loose and you shed tears you have been holding for years!” Stephanie added.
She underscored the need for men to live healthy and have longer life saying iTana Kenya was dedicated to providing comprehensive psycho social support to individuals in need, empowering them to navigate their mental health challenges and promoting their overall well-being.
“Men are the biggest resource we have in Kenya and am talking about human resource, when you lose a human resource, it has a real ripple effects , men hold the biggest positions in our society ,so we have to be careful and much concerned when we are just losing men” said Stephanie
The renowned content creator and social influencer also urged Kenyans to be their brothers’ keepers and always check to know state of one another, citing current increase in cases of suicide among men due to adverse effects of mental disorders, mostly depressions and stress.
“Guys, check up on your friends, people are going through stuff they cannot talk about” said the Stephanie added as she further challenged Kenyans both men and women to use the International Men’s Day as the best opportunity to appreciate and celebrate the men in their lives and the contribution they make to society for the greater good of all.
The event further emphasized more on promoting Men’s Health and encouraging then to prioritize their physical and mental health by seeking medical advice and urgent support when needed.
State of Cancer in Kenya
Subsequently , the talks underscored the need for men to check on their health by going regularly for health tests including breast and prostate cancer tests to help tackle effects of the life threatening diseases in their early stages.
Cancer is a significant global health concern, ranking as the second leading cause of death worldwide, according to World Health Organization WHO reports, which show the impact extending beyond physical health, affecting emotional and financial well-being.
In Kenya as per the Ministry of Health records, in 2018, the mortality rate for prostate cancer among men was 0.86% of total deaths, which is 40 people per 100,000.
In 2024, Kenya is expected to have 3,582 new cases of prostate cancer which remains the third most common cancer in Kenya, after cervical and esophageal cancer, according to Globocan, the National Cancer Registry and the Ministry of Health data.
The integrated national Population-Based Cancer Registry (PBCR) is an initiative by Kenya Medical Research Institute KEMRI that aims to provide high quality cancer surveillance data including incidence, mortality, and survival, to support scientific research and inform cancer control initiatives in the country.
Men need to go regularly for Prostate cancer screening which is said to be low in Kenya, with only 4.4% of men being screened annually, something which requires more public awareness during International Men’s Day events.
The International Men’s Day gained recognition immediately it was inaugurated in 1999 by Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh in Trinidad and Tobago. The day is observed in numerous countries worldwide, Kenya included, emphasizing the importance of addressing men’s issues including cases of prostate cancer and promoting gender equality.
It was further aimed to serve as a reminder that gender equality is a collective effort that benefits both men and women, and that addressing men’s well-being is an essential part of this journey, according to Dr Jerome, a Senior Lecturer in History, The University of the West Indies and an activist cum advocate for global peace and human rights.
