It is a fact that men in Zambia have a lower life expectancy at birth, and higher death rates during adulthood, than women.
Many of the health problems that men face could be prevented, or even cured, with early medical intervention or a change in lifestyle.
However, boys who are brought up to believe that “real men don’t get sick” may see themselves as invulnerable to illness or risk. When they actually fall ill, they may put up with the sickness or seek healthcare only as a last resort. It may be an archaic stereotype, but nagging from women is the main reason for Zambian men to get their health checked out.
Popular culture may paint men as the stronger sex, but from the moment a boy is born, his life is more likely than his sister’s to be cut short. Across national and cultural boundaries, men die an average of seven years earlier than women.
Are Zambian men dying younger because they don’t look after themselves and are reluctant to visit the doctor? Many men in Zambia suffer silently with regards to health and social economic issues that affect their wellbeing, and ultimately, this leads them to an early grave.
Mortality is non-negotiable. But the number of years you get—not to mention the way you spend them—can, in many ways, be up to you.
