Ben Jammaine Ncube, Champion in Chief for Men’s Health
By Artiom Turcan
Trailblazer and medical services entrepreneur, Ben Jammaine Ncube’s mission is to break the stigma around men’s health. Ben founded Men’s Health Zimbabwe, a clinic that specializes in the provision of men’s health care services.
A trained lawyer, Ben pivoted to men’s health care due to his father.
“My father started having health problems,” says Ben. “However, he did not want to get checked because of social stigma attached to it. It is a huge issue here in Zimbabwe. Men do not seek health care services because they fear appearing as weak.”
The realization that Zimbabwe needed health care centers that specialized in the treatment of men and addressed social stigma sparked an innovative idea in him. He launched in 2018 the Men’s Health Clinic. He was only 23 years old.
“It all started out small. I found a medical doctor to partner with,” says Ben.
“At that time, I was so young. There I was, a fledgling lawyer with a big vision for a medical start up. Honestly, I can say the imposter syndrome got to me at times. Most people would not trust such a young person to carry out a vision of this scope.”
In 2021, Ben participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) for Young African Leaders (YALI) program after a friend told him about it. “I applied for it because I hoped that I would get access to the exact knowledge and skills I need to grow my clinic.”
“One of the most important lessons I learned during the MWF program was a ‘strengths mindset.’ Leaders should focus on their strengths, rather than obsess over weaknesses. All MWF fellows take an exhaustive test, measuring their aptitudes and talents. In many cases, fellows discover/realize talents they never thought they had. The process changed my entire life, and I not only apply them in my work, but also my personal life.”
“One of the most important lessons I learned during the MWF program was a ‘strengths mindset.’ Leaders should focus on their strengths, rather than obsess over weaknesses. All MWF fellows take an exhaustive test, measuring their aptitudes and talents. In many cases, fellows discover/realize talents they never thought they had. The process changed my entire life, and I not only apply them in my work, but also my personal life.”
Ben cites another MWF advantage as crucial to his success: his newly acquired network. “Having a network of other young leaders, who are going through similar challenges to mine, has been invaluable. We can call upon each other, collaborate, share ideas and experiences.”
Ben now frequently works with other fellows of his cohort. “I cannot separate the fellowship from my life and work, as everything I am doing is now in conjunction with other fellows.”
The men’s clinic has grown significantly and now has a workforce of 12 core staff, nine supporting staff and 55 community health champions. The clinic has treated over 8,000 male patients. It has reached out to 10,000 more through outreach programs in both rural and urban areas. The clinic also produces a free weekly men’s health magazine, which provides easy to read and jargon free insights into men’s health. It also has a significant social media footprint.
The journey has not been easy as the Covid-19 pandemic was a colossal challenge.
“The pandemic hit us extremely hard. At one point, I was ready to close the clinic”, states Ben. He was personally convinced otherwise, however, through personal interactions with previous patients. “My one-on-one encounters with patients reminded me why I do what I do. To hear their accounts of how much the clinic has helped them gave me the drive to persevere and adapt.”
“Sometimes the biggest impediment to our progress at leaders and innovators is our own self-belief. Being part of MWF, I have met people in similar positions. Our exchange of experiences and expertise has helped motivate and validate my journey. I know I am not alone.”
Ben’s long-term goal is to keep fighting social stigma. “I have been involved in a number of community initiatives trying to help men see the importance of healthcare. Not just for them, but for their families’ sakes as well. I want to teach men that health is not just for women and children. Everyone should get the help they need, and I hope to keep being a champion in chief for the cause of men’s health in the foreseeable future.”