Health fair spreads awareness on men's issues

Student Health Services and Associated Students Inc. sponsored a Men's Health Fair on Wednesday at the Speaker's Platform. The fair provided information on fitness, general nutrition, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Manning the booths were representatives from Health Services, California Health Department, OPTIONS and the Los Angeles Health Department.

This fall marks the fifth annual Men's Health Fair on campus, said Mary Byron-Garcia, health educator for Health Services. She emphasized that issues on men's health are as equally important as those on women's health.

"One thing to point out is that this is very unique to have a men's health fair because I don't know of any other campus that puts one on," she said.

Byron-Garcia also said that holding this exhibition is necessary to spread awareness about such things as testicular cancer.

"It's a touchy subject, but men don't realize it's the leading cause of death for 15 to 34 year old men," she said.

"There's a reason why women tend to live longer than men," said Thomas Martinez, peer health counselor, "because they do go out and find out about their bodies."

According to Martinez, women and men can work together and provide each other support, making the experience of learning about each others' bodies fun.

"Girlfriends can help men with their self-examination, and men can help with breast examination for women," he said.

Another participant of the fair was OPTIONS.

"We're a drug and alcohol alternatives program and we encourage wellness and healthy living," said Joanna Johnson, OPTIONS intern.

Carmen Marquez of OPTIONS also explained that students know what drugs and alcohol can do to them, and instead of OPTIONS preaching to them, they offer alternatives.

"We introduce them to the different resources on campus," Marquez said. "There's sports, arts and crafts and clubs and other activities (for them)."

An AIDS awareness fair is scheduled for December and the Women's Health Fair will be held in March.