Movember, or No Shave November, is the annual event celebrated on the month of November to raise awareness on men’s health.
If you live in Bangladesh, you may have not heard of Movember before. You may have not seen the unusual moustache on your friend’s face on a specific month only.
Men’s mental and physical healths are not common topics in any conversation of Bangladeshi people.
Men from all around the world celebrate Movember through growing their mustaches to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s suicide.
The month of November is a time for call-to-action for all people to raise awareness of early cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment to ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths.
In 2016, the Movember Foundation raised over $80 million in funds towards programs to help raise awareness.
The rate of prostate cancer has risen from 0.6 people per 100,000 people in the year 2000 to approximately 0.7 now, according to HealthGrove, 2017.
World Life Expectancy report says Bangladesh also has an alarming suicide rate. 128.08 people per 100,000 commit suicide.
Even more alarming is the fact 2.06 per cent of all suicides taking place around the world happens in our country, and many of who are men.
Culturally around the world, and even in Bangladesh, men are seen as strong and independent figures of every group and household.
It is expected of men to be the leader, be masculine, and not complain in any situation.
Yet does masculinity keep us away from recognising the weaknesses and shortcomings of our health and lifestyle?
It is high time that men starting from the youth are educated on the risks of prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and suicide in men before it is too late.
