scone.com.auUpper Hunter men urged to get free health check
MORE than 41,000 Australian men die each year from preventable disease due to unchecked symptoms of high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol.
Upper Hunter Rotary Clubs are urging men to head down to Merriwa and Scone in May for a free ten minute health check in the Men’s Health Education Rural Van (MHERV).
Appointments are not necessary and health checks are conducted by a full-time Registered nurse in a Covid-safe environment.
See event locations and details below
Rotary Club are urging men to head down to the van for a free health check.
Regional men are busy and often neglect regular doctor visits, so Singleton Rotary Club member, the late Warren Deaves built a multi-purpose van, which now travels around regional and rural New South Wales areas to make it easy for men to get tested for signs of ill health.
Robert Woolley, full-time Registered nurse with the MHERV, often comes across men who haven’t seen a doctor for years.
“I know any client I have consulted has left knowing more about their health than before they visited the van,” said Mr Woolley.
“I believe many lives have been directly or indirectly saved,” he said.
The MHERV project entails ten minutes of non-invasive tests including a blood pressure test to check heart stress, a blood sugar level test to ensure there is no type two diabetes present and a cholesterol test to check if cholesterol levels are high and in need of attention.
Blood sugar and cholesterol level tests are crucial as high levels have virtually no symptoms and can result in death.
Both levels are tested with a single needle prick to the finger.
The MHERV program runs twice a year and is supported by approximately 35 Rotary Clubs around New South Wales.
Since 2017, 8,214 men have been tested through MHERV health checks, with 300 men referred to urgent medical attention.
To date, 700 lives have been saved, mostly men with dangerously high blood pressure, which could have resulted in an unexpected heart attack.
Free health check details:
When: February 19 and 20.
Where: IGA Supermarket car park, 44 Ogilvie Street, Denman;
Time: 10am-4pm;
Cost: Free.
When: February 23 and 24;
Where: Cole carpark, 19 – 29 Rutherford Road Muswellbrook Fair, Muswellbrook;
Time: 10am-4pm;
Cost: Free.
When: May 25 and 26.
Where: Merriwa (exact destination TBA);
Time: 10am-4pm;
Cost: Free.
When: May 30 and June 1.
Where: Scone (exact destination TBA);
Time: 10am-4pm;
Cost: Free.
Tags: Free Health Check, Mens Health, Rotary Club