BUFFALO, N.Y. — A men's health summit was held Saturday afternoon at the Delavan Grider Community Center.
The goal of the free event was to get all men, but especially minorities, to go to the doctor. As 2 On Your Side has previously reported, African-American men have higher cases of heart disease and hypertension.
"What inspired me was me going out into the community, engaging with people, trying to get them to get linked to services," Marlyn Moore of Community Access Services said.
"They didn't have a lot of information. "They lacked education on certain subjects, so bringing the doctors in the community together helped bridge that gap with medical disparities."
This was the first men's summit. There were panel discussions and free health screenings during the four-hour event.
"Studies have shown that men are more reluctant to go to the doctor, and it’s putting them at risk of developing chronic illnesses and higher rates of mortality. This is also true for men from communities of color," Kimberly Brown, the executive director at Community Access Services, said in a statement.
"By facilitating the conversation, we are helping men’s voices to be heard and can begin to move toward a solution of health autonomy. Ensuring everyone has access to the care they need and deserve is the cornerstone of services offered at Community Access Services and we are pleased to host this event for men from communities of color."
