A community health fair held in the St Peter constituency has shed light on a quiet but persistent crisis in Antiguan healthcare — men are living with serious, undiagnosed conditions and, in many cases, have no idea they are ill.
According to Antigua Observer, the inaugural fair, organised by Dr Courtney Lewis Medical and Associates, drew a broad cross-section of the community and revealed a troubling pattern of undetected illness among male residents.
A physician involved in the event raised concern over the number of men who attended the fair and discovered, for the first time, that they were carrying significant health conditions. The findings have prompted fresh calls for greater male engagement with preventative healthcare services across the country.
The health fair, the first of its kind in the St Peter constituency, offered residents the opportunity to access medical screenings and consultations. The results, according to those who organised and participated in the event, underscored a wider issue that healthcare professionals in Antigua and Barbuda have long observed — men are less likely than women to seek medical attention, often allowing conditions to go undetected until they become serious.
Dr Courtney Lewis Medical and Associates organised the event with the aim of bringing healthcare directly into the community, lowering the barriers that prevent many residents, particularly men, from accessing routine medical checks.
The findings from the fair are expected to inform ongoing discussions about how best to address gaps in preventative care for men across Antigua and Barbuda.
