GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Presidential Health Advisor, Dr. Mahendra Carpen, is urging Guyanese men to pay closer attention to their health, stating that in Guyana and the wider Caribbean, men now have a shorter life expectancy than women.
Addressing a National Symposium on men’s health and wellness on Wednesday, Carpen, a cardiologist, said that while men’s health and wellness in Guyana have been steadily improving, men still need to pay closer attention to their overall health.
“This is not quite an emergency, but it’s an alert that we have to pay attention to right now, and if we don’t, we will get caught up with everything else, and we will neglect something significant. Men, not just around the world but in the Caribbean, have a lifespan 3-4 years shorter than women. We live in the same place, we have the same food, we are in the same environment, but men have shorter life expectancy,” he said.
He told the forum that men are more than twice as likely as women to have premature death, meaning dying before the expected time. Among the causes, he highlighted cardiovascular disease, liver disease, lung cancer, and accidents as the leading causes of death for men in Guyana.
The suicide rate in the country is also higher among men.
So, if we are genuinely looking at equality, we have to address these issues as well. There are specific barriers that men face. Culturally in the Caribbean, we don’t go to the Caribbean until we are sick, and that’s something that needs to change immediately,” Carpen stated.
Meanwhile, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindya Persaud, highlighted the need for healthier relationships, strong mentorship for boys, and more supportive spaces for men.
She also highlighted key initiatives, including men’s groups in eight Regions, expanded Brave Centers, the Brotherhood of Safe Spaces, and a new Bridging the Gap Policy to strengthen families and prevent violence.
“I am a firm believer in not labeling men as bad people; we have to move away from that narrative. Some men contribute positively, and we need to have a balance where boys can see those men as their role models,” the Minister stated.
The forum was designed to serve as a starting point for sustained national dialogue, to encourage informed policy development, deepen community engagement, and expand support systems for men and their families.
and then 