Adult Men’s Health Needs and Access to Healthcare Services in Sierra Leone: Time to Consider Prioritising Men’s Health to Improve Outcomes in a Challenging Healthcare System

Introduction: Men’s health matters in sub-Saharan Africa have remained a complex multifaceted issue and is crying out for statutory attention to address the disproportionate morbidity and mortality rates amongst the male population as currently reported in many official health statistics. Sub-Saharan countries face significant challenges arising from inadequate healthcare service/facilities, socio-economic factors and rigid cultural norms that have resulted in the apparent oversight of men’s health needs in national discourses. It is time to consider changing this situation. Methodology: A descriptive analysis of various publicly available secondary data is used to discuss a case to consider prioritising men’s health in Sierra Leone in an equitable drive to improve men’s health outcomes. Results: There is an abundance of statistical evidence from many credible sources showing a disproportionately higher representation of men in negative health measure parameters, including lower life expectancy, high morbidity/mortality rates, and higher disability adjusted life years (DALYs) representing a significant loss of healthy life years due to premature death or living with a disability. The comparatively poor health outcomes for men are consistently highlighted in these collected statistics. Conclusion: Men’s health matters should no longer be neglected even in countries like Sierra Leone where healthcare resources are limited. Saving men from premature death and improving their ability to lead healthy fulfilling lives is an ethical imperative that benefits not only men but also women and the wider community. A men’s health strategy will be a vital instrument to accelerate change for better men’s health outcomes.