Return to Transcripts main page

CNN World Report

Austrian Physicians Aim to Make Men Healthier

Aired July 15, 2001 - 14:54   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: Whether motivated by fear, a feeling of vulnerability, or simply procrastination, men are not getting physical checkups like they should be. Studies show that men trail far behind women when it comes to good health.

SHIHAB RATTANSI, CNN ANCHOR: A troubling fact. It can be changed by taking preventive measures like routine visits to the doctor. A group of physicians from Austria is trying to close this widening gap between men and women. We get the details from Austria's ORF-TV.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATINKA NOWOTNY, ORF TV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): That is the way men love to see themselves, as powerful and strong. The cliches are passed on from generation to generation.

DR. SIEGFRIED MERYN, MEN'S WORLD DAY ORGANIZER: They want to have control. Men believe they are invulnerable. Men, very often, if they have problems have to react them out.

NOWOTNY: Dr. Meryn knows what's he talking about. He has seen many men in his practice but they often show up when it's too late and they rarely take preventive measures. That's why he found the first World's Men Day and initiated a conference of men in Vienna.

Together with another female doctor, they decided to study the species of men and they found out they are generally more vulnerable than believed.

CHRISTIAAN BARNHARD, WORLD HEALTH AWARD WINNER: Men have a lack of health awareness and health consciousness and we find them seldom in the preventive care settings and men are not used to use these preventive care settings and preventive measures.

NOWOTNY: The city of Vienna also discovered men's fears of doctors. They hosted two days in the city hall where men could have their health checked for free. 38,000 men showed up.

Preparation for the men's conference (UNINTELLIGIBLE) also want men to think about the violence against women and children. Women generally live seven years longer than men and in Eastern Europe, this gap is increasing, not decreasing. MERYN: It's not for men and against women. It's for both sexes. Sex and gender matter, we know that. What we want is to close the gap and to enable both sexes to reach a higher age and still be healthy.

NOWOTNY: It will take years to change men's attitudes towards doctors but he is not giving up easily. He hopes to turn their attitudes around.

Katinka Nowotny for the CNN WORLD REPORT.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com