Women’s movements have made significant strides in the past
decades in empowering the female gender, but what is it that truly
gives women power?
Women’s movements have made significant strides in the past decades in empowering the female gender, but what is it that truly gives women power?
The Women’s Health Summit Planning Committee believes a woman’s power is derived from her health and is holding a health summit next week to prove it.
A community resource fair centering on women’s health issues will be held Saturday at Natividad Creek Park in Salinas for San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz county residents, said Judy Garrison, project director of Cancer Detection Programs, a group participating in the summit.
The fair will include booths from different health agencies in the tri-county area centered around the top health issues concerning women, such as heart disease, lung and breast cancer and stroke.
It will also provide information on sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes and depression.
“Women can access all this information on the issues, and in addition they can participate in focus groups,” Garrison said. “We’re going to ask questions – are they aware, do they know where to go for help, do they know how to prevent these illnesses?”
The information derived from the focus groups will then be compiled and used at a health summit Wednesday, where various agencies and health providers will convene and analyze it, Garrison said.
“We’re going to look at what exists in the community and what the needs are,” she said.
The summit was arranged for the first time last year by Assemblymember Simon Salinas, R – Salinas, to evaluate the status of women’s health in this region.
“Last year (the response) was overwhelming,” Garrison said. “This year we’re going to take a look at specific health issues so we can have a clear idea of how to approach things.”
Salinas initiated the summit as a way to improve women’s health through education, he said.
“We got feedback to continue it on a yearly basis,” Salinas said. “It’s a good way to talk to experts about issues concerning women in the Central Coast.”
The goal of the summit is to form collaborations with women in the community and health agencies to address these issues, and possibly look at future legislation concerning women’s health, Garrison said.
“With budget cuts looming, we want to make sure we protect women and girls and make sure their needs are addressed,” she said.
“The more knowledge you have about the services available to you, the better you are able to meet your health needs and the needs of your family,” Salinas said. “We’re hoping to continue taking input to see what can happen in years to come.”
The event is free to the public.
