This Mother’s Day, May 8, 2011, marked the beginning of The 12th Annual National Women’s Health Week, an observance coordinated by the Office on Women’s Health (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Between May 8-14, advocacy organizations, health care providers, government agencies, community groups, businesses and individuals across the country are uniting to raise awareness about issues that relate to women’s health and well-being. There are events of all kinds taking place: from online symposiums to health fairs that focus on promoting certain products or services, from special deals on foods or fitness activities that benefit women to conferences and workshops that offer education and discussion on issues relating to health access, justice, empowerment, etc.
If you are interested in finding out what events are happening in an area near you, visit www.womenshealth.gov/whw/events for more information.
This year, all of these Women’s Health Week events are centered upon the theme “It's Your Time”, a statement reflecting the movement motivating women to make their health a priority. The week will promote simple steps every woman should take to improve her well-being: regular physical activity, a nutritious diet, avoiding risky behaviors, paying attention to mental health concerns, and attending regular health check-ups to get preventative screenings. In the current political climate, where women’s health and organizations supporting it have repeatedly been made secondary concerns, a week that empowers individuals to give precedence to their own health is tremendously important. As women's rates of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and other lifestyle diseases rise in almost every state (NWLC Report Card, 2010), and with funding being cut at both the federal and state level to programs working to prevent these problems, anything we can do to promote wellness and increase access to services through alternative means is invaluable. It is what this week is all about.
There are almost 30 national events publicized on the National Women's Health Week website and more than 600 opportunities to take part in the festivities at a state and local level. For example, on Wednesday, May 11th, capital city Madison is hosting its second annual Wisconsin Women’s Health Policy Summit, a chance for women from all different backgrounds to share their perspective on the policy priorities related to women’s health in Wisconsin, build on lobbying skills and hear from a fantastic lineup of knowledgeable health speakers. In Washington D.C. on Monday, May 9th, health organizations are celebrating National Women’s Checkup Day (a subset of the National Women’s Health Week) by hosting a health fair that will feature speakers and workshops, games and prizes, even manicures! The emphasis of the day is to offer a variety of health screenings to women who might normally not have access to them.
Luckily for you readers, each of you will have a chance to experience at least one exciting event; I will be attending this health fair in D.C. and will report back for your benefit. Hopefully you will be able to take part in events near you as well, so that you can report back for my benefit! Stay tuned!