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Illinois highlights National Women's Health Week          Send a link to a friend

10th anniversary of Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program celebrated

[MAY 18, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- In an effort to heighten awareness and educate Illinois women about health issues particular to them, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Conference of Women Legislators sponsored a women's health fair and ceremony on May 12 at the Capitol to acknowledge Women's Health Week. The health fair included a variety of health screenings and informational material on health concerns pertaining to women and the state services and programs available to them.

As part of the daylong women's health fair in the Capitol rotunda, representatives from the governor's office, the Illinois Department of Public Health, members of the General Assembly and the Conference of Women Legislators celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program. The program provided nearly 19,000 women with free screenings in fiscal 2004 and has served a total of 57,000 women since its inception. The Illinois Department of Public Health's Office of Women's Health contracts with 26 lead agencies that work with 2,100 providers to offer free mammograms, breast exams, Pap tests and pelvic exams to low-income women between the ages of 35-64 who have no health insurance. During the noon ceremony all 26 lead agencies were presented with an award for their efforts.

Pamila Schmidt of Logan County is a breast cancer survivor who credits the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program for saving her life. Schmidt gave her personal testimony at the May 12 event.

Louanner Peters, the governor's deputy chief of staff for social services, spoke at the event to discuss the administration's commitment to addressing women's health issues.

"Women's health is indeed one of the governor's top priorities," Peters said. "He has demonstrated his support for programs and services that address everything from breast and cervical cancer to cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. The governor has also made significant changes in contraceptive coverage. Last year, he signed legislation to require private insurance to cover birth control, and this year he launched a major awareness campaign to inform women that private insurance plans that cover outpatient drugs or services are now required to cover all FDA-approved contraceptive services and prescriptions."

Since taking office, Gov. Blagojevich has proven women's health is a priority by adding an additional $4 million in state funding to support breast and cervical cancer screening and education. The administration's support for community and faith-based groups such as the Stand Against Cancer Initiative resulted in 7,500 screenings. Stand Against Cancer works to target the hardest-to-reach minority women throughout the state by partnering with neighborhood organizations, churches and federally qualified health centers. In fiscal 2005, the total amount of funds supporting breast and cervical cancer programs in Illinois is $11.45 million, including $6.15 million in state dollars. Over the last two years, investments toward breast and cervical cancer screening and education programs in the state total more than $21 million.

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Gov. Blagojevich also signed legislation in December creating a 12-member Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force to help educate the public about cervical cancer and develop a statewide comprehensive prevention and control plan.

Illinois is one of only 15 states in the country to have an Office of Women's Health under the Illinois Department of Public Health to address health issues specifically affecting women.

"We are proud to have an Office of Women's Health," said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director. "We are able to educate women about a variety of diseases that affect them, provide cancer screenings and implement programs throughout the state to improve the health and well-being of women in this state."

Women legislators in the Illinois General Assembly continue to pass groundbreaking legislation, from insurance coverage of mammograms to cervical cancer awareness and screenings to greater protection from domestic abuse. The co-chairs of the Conference of Women Legislators -- Rep. Patricia Bellock, R-Hinsdale, and Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete -- spoke at the May 12 event, detailing women's health legislation. Halvorson is an active advocate for cervical cancer awareness and screenings.

"While this disease is the seventh-leading type of cancer in women and the eighth-leading cause of cancer deaths in women, the disease is curable when caught early," Halvorson said. "I encourage women to not only undergo annual screenings through a Pap test but to also get tested for HPV, a group of viruses that are the leading culprit of cervical cancer."

For more information on women's health and programs offered through the Illinois Department of Public Health, visit www.idph.state.il.us or call the Women's Health-Line at (888) 522-1282 or, for hearing-impaired use only, TTY (800) 547-0466.

[News release from the governor's office]


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