New Jersey's Federally Qualified Health Centers Celebrate National Women's Health Week, May 14-20, 2006
Posted on: Monday, 8 May 2006, 12:02 CDT
PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J., May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunday, May 14, 2006, is Mother's Day and the beginning of National Women's Health Week (NWHW). The New Jersey Primary Care Association (NJPCA) is acknowledging the importance of women's health in a number of ways. On Thursday, May 18, 2006, the NJPCA will sponsor the 2nd Annual Women As Health Advocates Awards Brunch at the Trenton Marriott Hotel from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Jeannine LaRue, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Governor's Office, will serve as the keynote speaker and honoree for National Women's Health Week celebration brunch.
Amidst the backdrop of NWHW, the following health advocates will be honored: State Senator Shirley K. Turner; Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman; Elizabeth Ryan, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at the New Jersey Hospital Association; Pamela Pruitt, Vice-President of Business Development, WIMG Radio; Wilda Diaz, Board Chairperson, Jewish Renaissance Medical Center; and Christine Grant, Past Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. State and local officials, community leaders and healthcare partners will attend the brunch honoring these outstanding women advocates.
Acknowledging the impact of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) in serving the health care needs of New Jerseyans, NJPCA has called for 100% participation from the 21 FQHCs in celebration of NWHW. In 2005, FQHCs served over 322,000 patients at 89 sites throughout 19 counties. Approximately 46% of all patients served were women. Many of these women are low-income and uninsured who lack access to health care through traditional avenues.
The public is invited to visit the centers and participate in the wide range of special events and activities that are being planned. The centers will host a week of themed activities related to women's health including free screening for breast and cervical cancers, walk-a-thons to reduce the risk of heart disease, senior care, and healthy nutritional habits. Monday, May 15th, is National Women's Check-up Day and will be the first of five days of free health screening, health education and other services offered to women. "We are pleased with the range of activities the health centers are planning this year," says Katherine Grant Davis, executive director, New Jersey Primary Care Association. "FQHCs play a major role in improving women's health through screening and early intervention. Nearly half of the patients served by the centers are women."
State statistics show HIV/AIDS, diabetes, stroke and other diseases continue to strike women in New Jersey at an alarming rate. The good news is that there are 21 FQHCs that provide primary and preventive care for these and other health challenges regardless of a patient's ability to pay. Access to health care is enhanced by services such as transportation, outreach and language translation.
National Women's Health Week embodies a national effort by an alliance of government organizations to raise awareness about manageable steps women can take to improve their health. One of the goals of the FQHCs is to improve the overall health of women in New Jersey by identifying resources that will aid them in adopting and living healthy lifestyles. For more than 40 years FQHCs have been carrying out the mission of providing quality, affordable health care to the underserved and uninsured, nearly half of which are women of childbearing age.
For more information, contact NJPCA at 609-275-8886 or visit http://www.njpca.org/.
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2006 NATIONAL WOMEN'S HEALTH WEEK Horizon Health Center, Jersey City, New Jersey (Hudson County)
Monday, May 15 - Free massages from Hudson Perinatal Consortium 10:00 am - 3:00 pm for OB patients - 714 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City - 201-451-6300
Tuesday, May 16 - Free, CEED, cervical screenings and self breast examinations, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm, 412 Summit Avenue, Jersey City - 201-963-5774
Wednesday, May 17 - Hudson Perinatal Consortium - 9:00 am - 12:00 pm at 714 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City and 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at 412 Summit Avenue, Jersey City
Thursday, May 18 - FACES Story Time Affairs, 727 Bergen Avenue - 9:30 am - 11:30 am. Our Bodies Ourselves - Snyder High School, 9:00 am - 10:00 am. Women's Health an Overview, Ms. Roberta Perry - 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, 727 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City
Jewish Renaissance Medical Center, Perth Amboy, New Jersey (Middlesex County)
Monday, May 15 - Breast Cancer Awareness Day, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, "Learning with Lunch" at 149 Kearny Avenue, 3rd floor, Perth Amboy (information on self breast examination, speaker from Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, refreshments available)
Tuesday, May 16 - Caring for Women - 9:00 am - 11:00 am, at JRMC 272A Hobart Street, Perth Amboy. Giveaways for the first 25 patients, free HIV testing and information, free breast exams.
Wednesday, May 17 - Screenings at P.A.C.E. Center - 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, at 415 Fayette Street, Perth Amboy, blood pressure screenings, complimentary vision screenings.
Thursday, May 18 - Learning to De-stress Your Life - 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm held at 275 Hobart Street on second floor. Relaxation techniques and 5-minute massage. Learn how to manage stress.
Monmouth Family Health Center, Long Branch, NJ (Monmouth County) (All activities at 370 Broadway, Long Branch)
Tuesday, May 16 - Pre-Natal (Obstetrics and Gynecology department) 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Education in postpartum depression, keeping healthy during pregnancy, stress during pregnancy, the big day, and baby care. Gifts for babies will be raffled. Refreshments and education material will be distributed.
Wednesday, May 17 - 11:30 am - 2:00 pm. Staff will be provided with information regarding stress management. Lunch will be served. Chair massages will be provided to the staff in a specially designed chair that allows the therapist to work on the back, neck, shoulders and arms, addressing the common problem areas of today's workers. There is no oil used and the worker is fully clothed. The massage session usually lasts 10-15 minutes.
Thursday, May 18 - 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm. Women's Health Fair, HIV testing and education, blood pressure screening, diabetes screening, pap smears. Dr. Raksha Joshi, Medical Director and OB/GYN physician will be available to answer healthcare questions. Breast cancer - the American Cancer Society will provide information about the disease and much more.
AtlantiCare Health System, Atlantic City, NJ (Atlantic County)
For National Women's Health Week, May 15-19, the entire AtlantiCare Health System, along with AtlantiCare Health Services, will be hosting several women's health events including on May 19 the mobile mammography van, outreach and on-site GYN and STD health and family planning will be at the health center.
CONTACT: Leslie A. Morris Director of Community Relations (609) 275-8886
New Jersey Primary Care Association
CONTACT: Leslie A. Morris, Director of Community Relations, New JerseyPrimary Care Association, +1-609-275-8886
Web site: http://www.njpca.org/
Source: PRNewswire
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