THE Rotary Men’s Health Education Rural Van (MHERV) is coming to Bulahdelah and locals are encouraged to hop on board for a free health check.

‘Saving men’s lives’ is the catch cry of the campaign, an initiative of the Rotary Club of Warners Bay in collaboration with local Rotary clubs and other community groups.

Twice a year, every year since 2017, the MHERV heads out to the backblocks of NSW seeking out the menfolk who haven’t seen the inside of a doctor’s rooms for years.

These are the blokes who drop dead in a paddock because nobody saw it coming.

With the support of the Royal Freemasons Benevolent Institution (RFBI), Rotary saw the appeal in the convenience of the van coming to the community with a Registered Nurse onboard to undertake free basic check-ups for ‘blokes’, and off it set, now offering ladies a free health check, too.

“The van is coming to Wade Park, corner of Mead and Crawford Streets, Bulahdelah, on Tuesday, 29 November from 10.30am – 3.30pm,” said Bulahdelah Men’s Shed President David Flynn.

“While in Bulahdelah, MHERV is proudly supported by the Bulahdelah Men’s Shed.”

The purpose-built MHERV van is staffed by male nurse Bill Power.

Bill has the knack of being able to relax even the most stressed clients.

The free-of-charge health screening service covers blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes.

The consultation takes about ten minutes and provides immediate results, giving participants feedback that the organisation says helps to improve health outcomes for men.

During the confidential consultation, Bill takes the opportunity to also chat about other health related concerns, including state of mind.

This service is offered in a relaxed, confidential and informal setting under Covid-safe guidelines.

The nurse submits a daily report to the Program Management team at Rotary Club of Warners Bay from which statistics are gathered.

Over the last four years the results have averaged approximately four percent of patients who have required urgent attention, around 40 percent are advised to follow up on something with their GP in the next week and 56 percent are encouraged to keep up the good work.

Over the past four years the van has seen nearly 11,000 people so it has potentially saved over four hundred people from a severe health event.

“So don’t walk past, come in and meet our registered nurse, Bill, for your free health check,” said Dick.

Visit www.mherv.com.au to find the nearest location to you and to learn more about the fascinating history of MHERV.