JN Reporter
With up to 65% of adult men who participated in the Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) study into the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED), and another study finding that chronic illnesses like hypertension, diabetes, depression, obesity, anxiety and cardiovascular diseases often led to ED in men.
ED will affect 322 million men globally by 2025, as estimated by the Journal of Urology International (BJUI). While the International Journal of Impotence Research estimated in its 2010 study that 85% of men living with ED across Africa did not seek treatment.
The EmpowerED for Life campaign under global healthcare company Viatris aims to shift the narrative by ending the stigma around men’s sexual health and encouraging health-seeking behaviour.
Launched during a virtual event that was attended by various health experts on the African continent, policymakers, men’s health advocacy organisations and the media, the company indicated that the campaign would take place in key African countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire.
During the campaign, the impact of ED on men’s physical, emotional and psychological well-being will be spotlighted as a growing public health crisis that requires urgent attention.
The multi-channel campaign will use digital media, community outreach programmes, academic institutions, and partnerships with healthcare providers will attempt to reach men and their partners from both urban and rural communities.
A focus will be given to promoting awareness, education, engagement and empowerment as the four pillars of the campaign.
“Through the EmpowerED for Life campaign, we are not only promoting awareness but also advocating for empathy, evidence-based care, and the normalisation of open dialogue. At Viatris, our mission is to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life, and that includes providing solutions to support men across Africa to access the information and healthcare they need to thrive,” said Head of India & Access Market (ARVs, India, South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa), Arvind Kanda.
In its National Integrated Men’s Health Strategy 2020-2025, South Africa reports that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases were among the leading causes of death in men aged 45 years and older. Stigma, poverty, feelings of compromised masculinity, confidentiality concerns, distance between facilities, gender norms and inconvenient times were some of the drivers for men not seeking healthcare services sooner.
Head of Urology Department at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), Dr Shingai Mutambirw, expressed the importance of the campaign in ending some of the challenges men face and breaking the silence about ED.
“Erectile dysfunction is often dismissed as merely a performance issue or a private matter, yet it can be an early warning sign of serious health concerns like cardiovascular disease or diabetes,” he said.
“Recognising and addressing ED early allows us to intervene before complications arise. It’s time we stop treating ED as a taboo and start viewing it as a gateway to better overall health for men across Africa.”
The campaign further aims to regulate the treatment of ED and advance equity for men on the continent.
