Immediate Release
May 8, 2009
Little Rock -- Governor Mike Beebe has proclaimed May 10-16 as National Women’s Health Week in Arkansas. National Women's Health Week kicks off on Mother's Day, May 10. The proclamation notes the important role that women play in the health and well-being of Arkansas’s families and communities. It is also a call to encourage women to take responsibility for their own health through greater knowledge and understanding and to incorporate positive health behaviors into their daily lives.
National Women's Health Week is a nationwide initiative that calls attention to the importance of women's health. The theme for National Women's Health Week 2009 is "It's Your Time." Activities include a National Women's Checkup Day May 11, when women across the country are urged to visit their doctors. In addition, the Woman Challenge, an eight-week online physical activity program, will be held May 10-July 4.
National Women’s Health Week in Arkansas also recognizes the work initiated by the first Arkansas Women’s Health Summit in September 2008. First Lady Ginger Beebe was the honorary chairperson. The purpose of the summit was to examine the health status of women in Arkansas as reported in the National Report Card on Women’s Health for which Arkansas received a failing grade. Already, Arkansas has made progress in improving health policies that support women’s health by passing Act 619 in the recent legislative session. This Act prohibits discrimination against victims of domestic violence in the individual health insurance market. Arkansas is no longer among the minority of states without such a prohibition. Arkansas also passed Act 621 in support of working mothers who wish to breastfeed their infants, which requires that employers provide unpaid break time and reasonable locations for expressing breast milk.
The Arkansas Department of Health is joining the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health in celebrating National Women's Health Week. "National Women's Health Week is important because it encourages women to take time for their health," says Jennifer Dillaha, MD, Director of the ADH Center for Health Advancement. "We women are often the caregivers for our families, and as a result we forget to make our own health a priority. With National Women's Health Week, we are reminded that we, too, need to visit the doctor and make sure we get our health screenings, as well as take time to care for our own health by exercising and eating right." During the week, families, health organizations, businesses, communities, the government and individuals come together to raise awareness about women's health issues and educate women about simple steps they can take for a longer, healthier and happier life. Examples of local activities to celebrate Women’s Health Week include the Montgomery County Health Unit in Mount Ida, which will offer educational literature and encourage women to have annual screenings from May 10-30. The Lafayette County Health Unit and the Life Coalition are sponsoring a Women’s Health Celebration that will be held on May 14 at the Stamps City Complex.
For more information about National Women's Health Week, please visit http://www.womenshealth.gov/whw.
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