Check out Jo's award-winning projects

A leading men's health practitioner has been recognised in this year's Public Servants of the Year Award run by online magazine Public Finance and backed by the government.

Jo McCullagh, senior health promotion specialist at the South Sefton and Southport & Formby Primary Care Trusts and a member of the MHF has won the 2005 award for Breaking New Ground - the Award for Innovation

Jo has launched a number of initiatives to help improve men's health and encourage them to be more open about their health. Her 'Check 'Em Out' project, in particular, helped to raise awareness of testicular cancer. Information aimed at young men was produced for display in showers and changing rooms, and the initiative has now been adopted by other PCTs, building sites and the British Army.

Jo has also highlighted the dangers from HIV through her Seafarer Sam project and helped to improve the diet and exercise regime of lorry drivers via a 'Tommy the Trucker' campaign.

Jon Rouse, the chief executive of the Housing Corporation, and a member of the Awards' judging panel said: 'Identifying a public who were shy of health services, Jo researched the reasons why and then developed novel and inventive approaches for promoting health issues and services to them. An imaginative and resourceful individual.'

Jo's colleague Gareth Lewis, men's health nurse at South Sefton Primary Care Trust added: 'Jo has devoted many hours to guarantee that deadlines are met, money is available, resources are developed and evaluation reports produced.'