Please forward to your colleagues.

For Release June 3, 1999
Contact: Damon Thompson (202) 205-1842



U.S. SURGEON GENERAL LAUNCHES MEN'S HEALTH RESOURCES AT HEALTHFINDER.GOV


Washington, DC - Surgeon General David Satcher today unveiled new features
and services oriented to men's heath at www.healthfinder.gov, the government
gateway Web site for health information.  Healthfinder(r) brings under one
umbrella the vast health information resources of the federal government and
its many partners.  Healthfinder(r) offers a broad range of reliable
consumer resources and serves, on average, more than 350,000 consumers each
month - more than 5.3 million visitors since it was launched.

"It is time to heighten the awareness of men and those around them to the
importance of prevention for men's health.  Men can live longer and
healthier lives by making sound health choices and through early detection
and treatment of diseases common or unique to them," stated Surgeon General
Satcher in a press release.  "The new resources at healthfinder.gov come
just in time for National Men's Health Week, June 14-20 (concluding on
Father's Day).  Men can find health information for their special needs,
along with a broad range of health resources of interest to them in their
many roles."

To access the new men's health information resources click on "men" under
"Just for You" on the healthfinder.gov homepage.

The new men's health resources at healthfinder.gov were developed in
response to consumer demand, but were also driven by the fact that many men
are not educated about the value of prevention for prolonging their life
span and maintaining their role in their family.  Heathfinder(r) offers
health information in a private and confidential manner that some men will
find more comfortable as a starting point to becoming more pro-active in
their health.

According to national advocacy groups such as the Men's Health Network,
men's health is more than a man's issue.   Because of its impact on wives,
mothers, daughters and sisters, men's health is truly a family issue.  And,
considering that women are often the main influences on health and medical
care in their own families, they are in a unique situation to influence
men's health choices.

Healthfinder(r) offers rapid access to 400 government Web sites and 5000
other reliable links, including online and print publications, libraries,
clearinghouses, referral services, research and clinical information,
databases, discussion and self-help groups.  In addition to the new men's
health resources, Just for You also provides a menu of easily accessible,
pre-selected health information in topic areas of particular interest to
women, Spanish speakers, families, children and other groups.

To reach the site, go online to www.healthfinder.gov.  Those without
personal Internet access are encouraged to check their local libraries or
call the National Health Information Center at 1-800-336-4797.

Healthfinder(r) is managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services' Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in collaboration
with other HHS agencies.

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