CLUW Shines Spotlight on Women’s Health

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/05/13/cluw-shines-spotlight-on-womens-health/

by James Parks, May 13, 2008

his week, May 11–17, is National Women’s Health Week. Beginning on Mother’s Day, Women’s Health Week encourages women to make their health a top priority and take simple steps for a longer and healthier life. Families, communities, businesses, government, health organizations and other groups will work to educate women about steps they can take to improve their physical and mental health and prevent disease.



With women making up nearly half of all union members, the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) is encouraging union members across the country to promote women’s health by urging women to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In addition to engaging in some form of physical activity most days of the week and eating a nutritious diet, CLUW, one of six AFL-CIO constituency groups, is urging women to avoid risky behaviors such as smoking or not wearing a seatbelt.

One of the most important things a woman can do, according to Carolyn Jacobson, director of CLUW’s Cervical Cancer Prevention Works program, is to visit a health care provider to receive regular check-ups, mammograms and preventative screenings.

Cervical cancer, the focus of Jacobson’s program, is one disease that can be prevented with proper preventive care.

The American Cancer Society estimates that this year, 11,150 U.S. women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 3,670 women will die of the disease. Those numbers could begin to drop if 11- and 12-year-old girls get the vaccine for the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine is approved for use in girls and women ages 9-26.

(This weekend in Washington, D.C., CLUW is sponsoring a “Walk to Beat the Clock” to raise funds for cervical cancer awareness. Find out more here.)

Beginning at age 21 or within three years of becoming sexually active, women should get Pap tests at a frequency recommended by their clinician. Women 30 and older should ask for an HPV test, along with the Pap.

Along with spreading the word on cervical cancer, CLUW suggests your local union help educate women on health issues by:

* Putting on a health fair or holding a health seminar.
* Including a health section as part of an education program/monthly meeting.
* Inviting speakers to talk on health at monthly meetings.
* Sponsoring a wellness walk.
* Linking your website to sites such as CLUW Health Links, CLUW’s Cervical Cancer Prevention Works, My Health Test Reminder and the National Women’s Health Information Center.
* Negotiating a “wellness program” in your next contract.

Learn about the five key health tests for women.