State Public Health Department Celebrates National Women's Health Week May 10-16, 2009

SPRINGFIELD - As part of National Women's Health Week May 10-16, 2009, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Office of Women's Health is teaming up with local health departments and community-based organizations to host women's health education and screening events in communities throughout the month of May.  IDPH awarded 28 grants totaling $41,000 for events across the state designed to increase the knowledge and general well being of women and girls.

"National Women's Health Week is a time for women to learn about how they can lead healthy lifestyles and the importance of knowing their health background, along with their risk factors, so they can take action," said Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Illinois Department of Public Health Director.  "By taking some simple steps, like going for a walk, eating more fruits and vegetables and making sure to go for routine health screenings, women can see significant results and improvement in their health.  The more women know about the diseases that affect them and their own risk factors, the better able they will be to take charge of their health and live better lives."

The Illinois Department of Public Health also received a $1,500 grant from the federal Office of Women's Health and will partner with Ingalls Memorial Hospital to host a Health Awareness Fair at the South Holland Parks and Recreation Center, located in South Holland, Illinois on Friday, May 15, 2009 from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.  Other partners for the health fair include Walts Foods, Mall Walkers - River Oaks Center Steppers, FJK Produce, and the Richard K. Desser, MD, Breast Center.

The event will consist of five basic stations:
1. Joint Health & Osteoporosis Screening
2. Risk Factors for Heart Disease - four computer stations where women take the Heart Aware Quiz which identifies risk factors.  Any women present with two or more risk factors, will be eligible for the Free Heart Aware Risk Factor Screening offered at Ingalls Memorial Hospital and three Family Care Centers. (Free screenings consist of blood pressure measurements, waist circumference, weight, BMI calculation, and fasting lipid and glucose profile.) 
3. Stroke Prevention
4. Stress Management - reflexology break out demonstrations, and sleep lab quiz.
5. Breast Cancer Awareness - interactive demonstrations with models to aide women in self-breast exams. 

Additional breakout sessions include Yoga and Super Foods, women will be given samples of several ‘super foods'.

The following local health departments and organizations received grants.

Organization                     Program                         Amount
Bond County Health Dept. Screening and educational material on blood pressure, smoking cessation, diabetes, healthy diet and physical activity $1,000

Clay County Health Dept. Women Out Walking 5K walk/run and mini health fair $1,000

Crawford County Health Dept. Screenings and education on cardiovascular disease $1,000

Jersey County Health Dept. Screenings - blood cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose $1,000

Lee County Health Dept. Mini Health Fair - Body Mass Index and body fat analysis screenings $1,000

Livingston Co. Public Health Dept. Screenings and education about lifestyle and/or medical interventions $1,000

Marshall County Health Dept. Health Fair and blood pressure, blood glucose, lipid profile and osteoporosis screenings $1,000

Mercer County Health Dept. "Healthy Lives-Happy Women" workshop and health fair $1,000

Peoria City/County Health Dept. Free stroke and osteoporosis screening $1,000

Pike County Health Dept. Screenings - free cholesterol/ diabetes and hypertension screening $1,000

Providence NFP Health and fitness day - screenings and information $1,000

Southern Seven Health Dept. Education on breast and cervical cancer, diabetes, physical activity and how to reduce cardiovascular disease $1,000

St. Clair County Health Dept. Screenings and health information for sexually transmitted disease $1,000

Warren County Health Dept. "Spirit Week" - screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, bone density, blood glucose $1,000

Westside Association for Community Action Screenings - blood pressure, diabetes, pregnancy, HIV and STD testing $1,000

Whiteside County Health Dept. Health Fair - risk assessment ad screenings $1,000

Asian Human Services, Inc. "Taking Time To Care" symposium - diabetes, nutrition, heart disease, osteoporosis $2,000

Boone County Health Dept. "Taste of Fitness" workshop and screenings $2,000

East Side Health District "Women's Empowerment Workshop" - nutrition, physical activity, heart disease, diabetes, sexual health awareness $2,000

Ford-Iroquois Public Health Dept. Screenings, health walk, women's seminars $2,000

Henderson County Health Dept. Screenings and health workshop on diabetes and breast cancer $2,000

Henry County Health Dept. Screenings and educational workshop on breast/ cervical health, stress management, relaxation and physical activity $2,000

Jackson County Health Dept. Screenings and health fair - African dance aerobics, walking, stress management $2,000

Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers Screenings and women's health education day at the mall $2,000

Logan Co. Dept. of Public Health Screenings and informational session on nutrition $2,000

McDonough County Health Dept. Screenings and educational workshop on stress management, finances related to health and nutrition, physical activity $2,000

Senior Services Plus Screenings and health fair on heart disease, obesity, nutrition and physical activity $2,000

Ingalls Wellness Center Health Awareness Fair $3,000

TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED                $41,000
    

The Office of Women's Health encourages all Illinois women to participate in events their local health care facilities may be offering to promote a happier and healthier tomorrow.