Chinese men embraced the country's ninth Men's Health Day on Tuesday as an on-going national women's congress vowed to further boost women's involvement in social and economic development and their participation in state affairs.

A variety of activities was held in cities across China to mark the special occasion.

At the Beijing West Railway Station, the National Population and Family Planning Commission launched a campaign to publicize health knowledge, especially for male migrant workers.

Passengers thronged to consultation desks to seek doctors' advice about their health, and get free medical pamphlets.

"This is very useful," said Chen Beihe, a migrant worker from central Henan Province, at the station, holding two books in his hand. "We can do nothing without a sound physical condition."

Lectures, consultations, exhibitions, medical examinations and various other activities were staged across the country to promote care for men's health, which has long been neglected.

China named October 28 Men's Health Day in 2000. The theme of this year's Men's Health Day focused on providing scientific health guidance for men to help them lead a harmonious life.

The commission's deputy director Wang Pei'an said there are more than 100 million Chinese who are working outside their hometown for better payment.

"They have made great contributions to urban construction, but they are, at the same time, encountering many difficulties and problems in life and work," he said. "They deserve more public attention."

According to Wang, a new department to offer service and management for migrant workers was set up under the commission earlier this year.

The department would work to ensure orderly migration and reasonable layout of the group, to provide better reproduction service, and to gradually improve a legal system for migrant worker management, he said.

Impotence and andrology diseases are growing among men because of increasing stress from work and family, unhealthy lifestyle, worsening environment, and men's reluctance to see a doctor.

Statistics from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed, one in four men in China suffered from sexual dysfunction, and 6.5 percent of male adults have venereal disease.

(Xinhua News Agency October 29, 2008)