Senate Resolution No. 2564

BY: Senator PARKER

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, in
celebration of its 23rd year, to proclaim June
12-18, 2017, as Men's Health Week in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, June 12 through 18, 2017, marks the 23rd year for National
Men's Health Week, with the sole purpose of heightening the awareness of
preventable health problems and encouraging 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 many men are faced with; on average, a man's
life expectancy is almost six years less than that of a woman; we need
to give particular emphasis on the importance of public awareness and
education to improve the life expectancy of 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 are not
just a man's issue; due to the impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and
sisters, men's health is truly a family issue; and

WHEREAS, Despite the advances in medical technology and research,
men continue to live an average of approximately six years less than
women; and

WHEREAS, Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men,
afflicting one out of every 11 American men and killing 34,000 men every
year; for African-American men, the rate of affliction is even worse;
African-American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in
the world; and

WHEREAS, In the past five years, the death rate for prostate cancer
has grown to 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 1.5 times more often than 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, 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 in 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 preventive health
can play in prolonging their lifespan and their role as a productive
family member will be more likely to participate in health screenings;
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; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, in celebration of its 20th year,
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.