THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ACKNOWLEDGES MAY AS WOMEN’S HEALTH MONTH

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Health (DOH) joins health professionals and citizens statewide in celebrating women’s health. Throughout the month, special programs will be dedicated to increasing awareness about women’s health issues across the lifespan and encouraging women to make healthy decisions.

“This month we celebrate the extraordinary progress in women’s health research, practice and programs,” State Surgeon General Ana M. Viamonte Ros, M.D., M.P.H. said. “The Department recognizes the need for continuous efforts to improve the health of women in Florida. By taking simple steps such as having regular check-ups and recommended screenings, maintaining good nutrition, and exercising, women can empower themselves and improve their health regardless of age.”

“Women's Health Month is a great time for women to focus on their health and to explore ways to incorporate healthy habits into their daily routines. Each healthy act may positively impact a woman’s health for years to come and create a legacy of health for the generations that follow,” said DOH Assistant Deputy Secretary for Health and State Women’s Health Officer Tamara Yang Demko, J.D.

In celebration of Women’s Health Month, DOH will host the 2008 Governor’s Conference on Women’s Health, May 27-28, 2008, at Buena Vista Palace in Orlando, Florida. This conference will provide an educational forum for Florida’s women and women’s health stakeholders to discuss issues affecting women across the state and also identify solutions that will help improve the overall health status of women in Florida. To learn more about the Conference, visit www.doh.state.fl.us/womenshealth/2008Conf/index.html.

In addition, DOH will host and recognize other community activities during Women’s Health Month, including National Women’s Check-Up Day, health fairs, and physical fitness events. During National Women’s Check-Up Day on May 12, DOH will encourage women of all ages to be proactive with their personal health and schedule preventative exams and screenings. Through regular screenings, many diseases and other health conditions can be detected early. This focus on prevention can be extended to other aspects of women’s heath including routine exercise and eating a healthy diet.

DOH understands that women’s health encompasses a broad range of issues, including physical, social and economic concerns across the lifespan. Childcare, work and family demands, caring for ailing parents, economic security, and aging can impact a woman’s health. DOH strives to empower women and communities with the tools to recognize the diverse public health needs of women and to promote a better understanding of the many facets of women’s health.

DOH promotes, protects and improves the health of all people in Florida. For more information about Florida’s Women’s Health Month, local activities and events, or National Women’s Check-Up Day, visit the DOH website at www.doh.state.fl.us/womenshealth/week/week.html or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health website at www.4women.gov.