Each year, the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention Program at the Ohio Department of Health partners with Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) to sponsor Women’s Health Month. Throughout Ohio, there will be numerous women’s health programs covering a wide 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 year’s kickoff event, “Take Care ● Take Charge ● Choose Health — Diabetes and the Appalachian Woman,” takes place Friday, Sept. 8, at the Ross County Service Center in Chillicothe. Mary De Groot, Ph.D., Ohio University assistant professor of psychology, will be the keynote speaker.

OU-COM’s Community Health Programs (CHP), formerly Community Service Programs, takes an active role in Women’s Health Month through its administration of the college’s AHEC program and by holding clinics and educational events through the month.

“Women’s Health Month is important because it gives women a chance to focus on their health. Women spend so much time taking care of others, they often neglect themselves,” said Janice Smith, CHP certified medical assistant. “This month-long program affords women of all ages many opportunities to become better informed about their health-care needs, physical and psychological.”

This September marks 21 years 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.

“In Perry County, the Mother/Daughter Exposition brings mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers and aunts together for the sake of their individual and collective health needs. Last year was the first time Community Health Programs attended the expo. It was very well attended and was an event at which women had an opportunity to be catered to, which I’m sure they appreciated,” said Smith.

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. For more information about the kickoff and Women’s Health Month, please call (800) 282-3040 or (614) 466-2144.

OU-COM’s CHP is sponsoring or co-sponsoring the following health-care programs in association with Women’s Health Month:

• Healthy Adult Project (cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose screening, women’s health education) at Health Fair for Ohio University International Students — Yamada House, Friday, Sept. 1, noon to 5 p.m.

• Senior Expo (breast and cervical cancer education, cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose screening) — Scioto County Fairground in Lucasville, Friday, Sept. 8, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Clinic — Sciotoville Nazarene Church, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Clinic — Ross County Health Department in Chillicothe, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Healthy Adult Project (cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose screening, breast and cervical cancer education) at Mother/Daughter Exposition 2006 (see below) — Building Blocks Learning Center in New Lexington, Thursday, Sept. 21, 4 to 8 p.m.
• Diabetes and Women’s Health (diabetes education presentation and diabetes and blood pressure screening) at “A Woman’s Role — Taking Care of Everyone” (see below) — Collins Room, Ohio University Ironton Campus, Sept. 27, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

For more information on CHP programs, please call (740) 593-9127.

Women’s Health Month 2006

(Month-long)      My Sister’s Place presents interpersonal violence screening programs for medical personnel at O’Bleness Memorial Hospital, Athens, and Doctors Hospital, Nelsonville. For more info, call (740) 593-7125.

(Month-long)      My Sister’s Place presents interpersonal violence screening programs for medical personnel at Hocking Valley Community Hospital, Logan. For more info, call (740) 593-7125.

Sept. 8              Take Care ● Take Charge ● Choose Health — Diabetes and the Appalachian Woman — Women’s Health Month Kickoff Event at the Ross County Service Center in Chillicothe. Sponsored by the Ohio Department of Health Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention Program, Ohio Department of Health Diabetes Prevention and Control Program and Ohio University AHEC. For more information, call (800) 282-3040 or (614)466-2144.

Sept. 21            Mother/Daughter Exposition 2006 (health education, health and wellness fair) — Building Blocks Learning Center in New Lexington. Sponsored by the Perry County Health Department and Building Blocks Learning Center. For more info, call (740) 342-5179.

Sept. 22            Healthy Bones-Strong Women — Belmont Technical College, Horizon Hall in St. Clairsville. Sponsored by Belmont County Interagency Council. For more info, call (740) 695-0295 or (740) 633-1120.

Sept. 23            Journey to Health and Healing (cancer prevention, stress management, sexual assault prevention) — Washington State Community College in Marietta. Sponsored by EVE Inc. For more info, call (740) 374-5820.

Sept. 27            A Woman’s Role — Taking Care of Everyone (improving the health of working women and caregivers) — Collins Room, Ohio University Ironton Campus, Sept. 27. Sponsored by Area Agency on Aging, District 7 Inc. For more information, call (800) 582-7277.

Sept. 29            Body Mind Spirit: Finding Serenity for Life (stress management) — The Colonial in Jackson. Sponsored by the Jackson County Health Department, Holzer Clinic and Holzer Medical Center. For more info, call (740) 286-5094.

            Women’s Health Month is sponsored 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.