FROM May 13 to 19, Guam is joining the rest of the U.S. in recognizing National Women’s Health Week with the theme “It’s Your Turn.”
In a news release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius encourages everyone to “celebrate the women in their lives by encouraging them to make time to address their own health.”
“Healthy, strong women are essential to having healthy strong children and communities, but too often women place the needs of others before their own needs,” Sibelius added.
On Guam, a proclamation signing at the Governor’s Complex in Adelup yesterday officially launched the weeklong commemoration.
Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio signed the proclamation witnessed by Department of Public Health and Human Services Director James Gillan and Bureau of Family Health and Nursing Services Administrator Margarita Gay.
Gay encourages women across the lifecycle to visit their healthcare professional, be active, and pay attention to their mental health. It is essential for women, according to Gay, to know how to live a healthier and happier life.
“If they are not healthy, the family and community are affected,” Gay stated.
Gay said for National Women’s Health Week, women can call their office for any health-related questions or issues they may have. Her office can be reached at 735-7121/7127.
Challenges
Gillan emphasized, “These healthcare programs recognizing women’s health needs, as a policy statement for the government, really makes sense.”
He added: “Women’s health is important; they are the nurturers, the ones who generally keep the homes together, and a lot of them are in the business of health care.”
Funding has always been a challenge, according to Gillan. He said the department is doing all they can with all the resources they have to ensure Guam residents and people coming in from the Freely Associated States are provided with adequate maternal and child services.
“I think a lot of our Freely Associated citizens coming here do not know that there’s health care available for them. We really need to spend some time trying to provide services for the women coming here,” Gillan added.
