What measures it is taking to increase awareness of men's health issues in (a) Aberdeen, (b) the Grampian NHS Board area and (c) Scotland.

Increasing awareness of health issues in Aberdeen and the Grampian NHS Board area is the responsibility of Grampian NHS Board's Health Promotion Unit. The unit provides information and advice on a wide range of topics including diet, exercise, smoking cessation, oral health, mental health and well-being aimed at the whole community and also targeted at specific groups where appropriate. The board is planning a men's health month to take place in August this year.Grampian NHS Board should be approached directly for information about their plans and strategies for men's health. The Scottish Executive Health Department is taking forward a number of national approaches which will increase awareness of men's health. We are working with Men's Health Forum Scotland (MHFS) to ensure that men's health improvement is considered as an integral part of health policy. The National Sexual Health Strategy for Scotland which will go out for public consultation in the autumn will look at all aspects of sexual health, including men's health. We are funding Scotland's Health at Work (SHAW) over three years, 2001-02 to 2003-04, to create more health promoting workplaces as part of an integrated occupational health strategy for Scotland. There are four strands to the Executive's occupational health policy agenda: working with the Health and Safety Executive and others to implement the UK agenda; delivering improvements for NHS staff, and raising awareness and practice in the private and public sectors across Scotland. Whilst not targeted specifically at men, these occupational health initiatives will provide further opportunities for men to think about their health and to take measures to improve their health. We will also be developing and piloting a range of innovative programmes including well man clinics.