China marks Men's Health Day, targeting migrant workers

BEIJING, Oct. 28 (Chinese media) -- Chinese men embraced the country's ninth Men's

Health Day on Tuesday as an on-going national women's congress vowed to further

boost women's involvement in social and economic development and their

participation in state affairs.

A variety of activities was held in cities across China to mark the special

occasion.

At the Beijing West Railway Station, the National Population and Family

Planning Commission launched a campaign to publicize health knowledge,

especially for male migrant workers.

Passengers thronged to consultation desks to seek doctors' advice about

their health, and get free medical pamphlets.

"This is very useful," said Chen Beihe, a migrant worker from central Henan

Province, at the station, holding two books in his hand. "We can do nothing

without a sound physical condition."

Lectures, consultations, exhibitions, medical examinations and various

other activities were staged across the country to promote care for men's

health, which has long been neglected.

China named Oct. 28 Men's Health Day in 2000. The theme of this year's

Men's Health Day focused on providing scientific health guidance for men to help

them lead a harmonious life.

The commission's deputy director Wang Pei'an said there are more than 100

million Chinese who are working outside their hometown for better payment.

"They have made great contributions to urban construction, but they are, at

the same time, encountering many difficulties and problems in life and work," he

said. "They deserve more public attention."

According to Wang, a new department to offer service and management for

migrant workers was set up under the commission earlier this year.

The department would work to ensure orderly migration and reasonable layout

of the group, to provide better reproduction service, and to gradually improve a

legal system for migrant worker management, he said.

Impotence and andrology diseases are growing among men because of

increasing stress from work and family, unhealthy lifestyle, worsening

environment, and men's reluctance to see a doctor.

Statistics from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

showed, one in four men in China suffered from sexual dysfunction, and 6.5

percent of male adults have venereal disease.