Men for Health and Gender Justice Organisation

Men for Health and Gender Justice Org (M4H) was founded and formally registered in 2012. Since then, they have positioned themselves and their work at the intersection between three main stakeholder groups:

• marginalised and vulnerable men – their quality of life and health is M4H’s reason for being;
• the formal health systems (local, district and national) that serve, and sometimes fail, these men; and
• the Botswana and regional LGBTQI+ movement and SRH– whose rights agenda they share, and part of whose constituency they serve.

They have always had a strong focus on connecting men to care, but also on addressing some of the social, human rights and community-level challenges facing gay and bisexual (GB) men, and men who have sex with men (MSM) in Botswana.

Men for Health and Gender Justice is committed to increasing access to health services for men and boys in Botswana, recognising that men often face structural and social barriers to seeking healthcare. Their work on viral hepatitis aligns with this mission through targeted activities, including:

1. Hepatitis Awareness and Screening Campaigns for Men and Boys:
They conduct outreach programs in workplaces, bars, sports clubs, and community spaces where men gather, offering free or low-cost hepatitis B and C screenings. These initiatives aim to normalise testing among men, encouraging early detection and linkage to care.
2. Health Education and Community Dialogues on Hepatitis:
They facilitate community dialogues specifically designed for men, addressing myths and misconceptions about viral hepatitis, transmission, and prevention. By using male role models and peer educators, we foster open discussions about liver health, alcohol use, and risk reduction strategies.
3. Integration of Hepatitis Services into HIV and SRHR Programs for Men:
Since men are often less likely to seek healthcare, M4H integrates hepatitis screening, vaccination, and education into our existing HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) programs. This ensures that men accessing HIV services also receive hepatitis-related education and interventions.
4. Advocacy for Workplace Health Policies on Hepatitis:
They engage employers and industries where men predominantly work (such as mining, construction, and transport) to implement workplace health policies that include hepatitis awareness, testing, and vaccination.
5. Training Healthcare Providers on Male-Friendly Hepatitis Services:
Recognising the gendered barriers that prevent men from accessing healthcare, M4H trains healthcare providers on delivering hepatitis services in ways that are welcoming and non-stigmatising for men.