Long before the novel coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, Andrei Ezerin's initiative "It's High Time!" emphasized the necessity to give more attention and action to the dangers caused by the irresponsible attitude of 45+ men towards their health. Today these signals have turned out to be more relevant than ever. Numerous studies and COVID-19 charts confirm the fact that men are more exposed to the severe course of coronavirus disease. Maybe we should look for a reason beyond the COVID-19 situation?

Andrei Ezerin, the head of the "It's High Time!" initiative:

"At some point, I noticed that many middle-aged men, some of my friends and acquaintances, are dying. For me it was a trigger – very personal moment that makes something change. Last year, I and my colleagues completed "It's High Time" initiative, supported by the EU-UN BELMED project. The initiative helped to promote a healthy lifestyle among 45+ men. With the help of experts, we talked about the threats that the phenomenon of high male mortality poses to our society. For comparison – according to statistics, women in Belarus live 10 years longer."

"Now, browsing through the headlines of a global fight with COVID-19, I see that 45+ men are among one of the most vulnerable groups. I am very confident that when the outbreak is over “immunity” will become a buzz word. Men will finally see a clear reason why it is crucial to take care of their own health and will give up the “it can’t be me” approach that doesn’t always work."

"The virus can return in one form or another and only good health, combined with all measures of personal hygiene can shield us from the infection. We clearly communicate the message that everyone is responsible for their own health and of their loved ones. It is also important to start with the awareness that our main enemies are ignorance, laziness and irresponsible attitude towards a way we live."