The Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention Program at the Ohio Department of Health partners with Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) and The Ohio State University Multicultural Center to sponsor Women’s Health Month throughout the state. The theme for this year’s Women’s Health Month is “Take Care, Take Charge, Choose Health.”

Throughout Ohio, there will be numerous women’s health programs covering a very broad range of issues. The primary thrust of activities during this month is to encourage women to network with each other and to assume a definite and proactive role in promoting their health.

This September marks two decades of observing Women’s Health Month, a program unique to Ohio. Ohio’s program has been publicized as a model by the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health and used as an example for community education on women’s health in other states. Through grants from the Ohio Department of Health that are awarded by AHEC, community organizations and agencies throughout the state have received up to $1,500 each to plan and conduct conferences, workshops and health fairs focused on women’s health issues.

“Oftentimes organizations match grant funds with money from their budgets, but this is not a requirement,” says Kathy Trace, R.N., interim director of AHEC and director of Community Service Programs.

“Women too often put themselves last and the needs of their families first,” says Trace. “This month is a way to celebrate women and provide them the opportunity to learn more about their health-care needs and improve their health and well-being. Women’s Health Month encourages them to take time for themselves.”

Priority issues for Women’s Health Month are prevention/wellness; the impact of low income, poverty and homelessness on women’s health; the impact of racism on health and access to health care; violence against women; the health effects of multiple roles; chronic diseases; the effects of media messages and advertising images on women’s health; occupational health issues; reproductive health; health issues of women with disabilities; women and addiction; eating disorders; health needs of women with alternative lifestyles; the health issues of incarcerated and other institutionalized women; parenting and caregiver health effects; empowerment/self-esteem; the effects of sexism on health and access to health care; women’s changing health needs over the life span; professional ethics; and the effects of environmental pollution on women’s health.

Several events (listed at the end of this release) highlight Women’s Health Month observances in Southeastern Ohio. The kickoff event for Women’s Health Month, “Take Care, Take Charge, Choose Health — 20 Years of Women’s Health Month in Ohio,” will be held this Friday, Sept. 9, in Columbus at The Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital, The Ohio State University, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. For more information on the kickoff, please call (800) 282-3040 or (614) 728-4885.

CSP will hold the following health-care programs during the month:

• Health Fair and Senior Expo, Scioto County Fairgrounds, Lucasville, Friday, Sept. 9, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Breast and Cervical Screening Clinic, Jackson Kroger Grocery Store, Jackson, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Cholesterol, Blood Pressure and Glucose Screening and Health Education Clinic, Perry County Fairground, New Lexington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 9 to 11 a.m.
• Health Fair and Cholesterol, Blood Pressure and Glucose Screening, Perry County Hocking College, Thursday, Sept. 15, 4:30 to 8 p.m.
• Cholesterol, Blood Pressure and Glucose Screening and Health Education Clinic, Mills Pride, Waverly, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Cholesterol, Blood Pressure and Glucose Screening and Health Education Clinic, Laurelville Senior Center, Laurelville, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to noon.
• Breast and Cervical Screening Clinic, Parks Hall, Ohio University’s Athens campus, Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon
• Breast and Cervical Screening Clinic, Perry County Senior Center, New Lexington, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information on CSP programs, please call (740) 593-2432.

 Women’s Health Month 2005

 (Month-long)     Get Carded! (interpersonal violence, dating violence) — Sponsored by My Sister’s Place at O’Bleness Memorial Hospital, Athens, and Doctors Hospital, Nelsonville. For more info, call (740) 593-7125.

(Month-long)      Get Carded! (interpersonal violence, dating violence) — Sponsored by My Sister’s Place at Hocking Valley Community Hospital, Logan. For more info, call (740) 593-7125.

Sept. 6 to 10     Sexual Assault Issues — Sponsored by the Morgan County Health Department at the county fair. For more info, call (740) 962-4572.

Sept. 8, 15,

22, 29                Women’s Changing Health Need Series (reproductive health, stress management, menopause) — Sponsored by Marietta Memorial Hospital, Marietta. For more info, call (740) 374-4913.

Sept. 15            Mother/Daughter Exposition 2005 (health education, health and wellness fair) — Sponsored by the Perry County Health Department and other organizations at Hocking Hills College, Perry campus, New Lexington. For more info, call (740) 342-5179.

Sept. 23            Women’s Health Conference (eating disorders, domestic violence, family life, hormonal health) — Sponsored by Ohio University’s School of Nursing and College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Area Health Education Center at Ohio University’s southern campus, Ironton. For more info, call (740) 593-2292.

Sept. 25            Navigating the Teenage Years (physical activity, healthy eating, substance abuse) — Sponsored by Holzer Medical Center, Gallipolis. For more info, call (740) 446-5679.

Sept. 30            The Many Hats of Women’s Health through the Years (reproductive health, breast, cervical and uterine cancer) — Sponsored by the Belmont County Interagency Council at the Belmont Hills County Club, St. Clairsville. For more info, call (740) 633-1120 or 695-0293.

All programs are supported by the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention Program, Ohio Department of Health; the Bureau of Health Promotion and Risk Reduction, Division of Prevention, Ohio Department of Health; and the Ohio Statewide AHEC program.