Minister Marie Celine Zialor’s message on International Men’s Day |19 November 2020

Minister Zialor

‘We must educate our men to take effective care of themselves’

“It is important to empower men and boys in our society to take on their responsibilities to not only take care of their health but to play an active role towards their well-being.”

This comes in a message from the Minister for Youth, Sports & Family, Marie Celine Zialor, on the occasion of the International Men’s Day being celebrated today, November 19.

The full text of Minister Zialor’s message reads:

“Today we join the international community in celebration of International Men’s Daywith the theme ‘Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys’. It is a day for all men in our society to reflect on your lives and reflect on what we can do to empower and encourage other men and boys to strive to become exemplary citizens in our society.

“It is also a day to reflect on the challenges that still persist globally and locally which prevent our men and boys from making informed decisions. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to empower men and boys in our society to take on their responsibilities to not only take care of their health but to play an active role towards their well-being. Health statistics show that men’s life expectancy in Seychelles has had a 10-year gap for over a decade as compared to Seychellois women. We must educate our men to take effective care of themselves.

“We are all aware that many of our men and boys have succumbed to many social adversities such as drugs and alcohol abuse causing them to be economically inactive and socially inept. But nonetheless, it is important to acknowledge the positive contributions of many of our male role models. These men and boys deserve more visibility so that we can support the transformation of our society from a negative culture to a positive, modern and powerful culture. Your contributions towards our economic and social developments are needed now more than ever.”

Press release from the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Family