Hopefully this strategy for a women-centred strategy has been build upon
a foundation of responding to specific social determinants of women's
health and wellness!

Christina

________________________________________

Christina McLennan BSW MSW (Candidate)
University of Northern BC
Phone: 250-967-0208
Cell: 250-617-5629
Email: [log in to unmask]

For immediate release - October 25, 2004

Provincial Women's Health Strategy to improve health for B.C. girls and
women announced

Vancouver, B.C. - Representatives from BC Women's Hospital & Health
Centre
and the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women's Health, along
with
other special guests, today revealed a new collaborative strategy to
improve
the health of girls and women throughout B.C.

Overall, the health of girls and women in B.C. compares with the best in
the
world and life expectancy is at an all-time high. However, significant
sources of illness continue to affect the quality of life of women and
some
groups of girls.  Women may be more at risk for some diseases, while
effective methods of interventions can vary. For example, the strategy
points out significant health issues for women in B.C., such as: mental
health; problematic substance use and addictions; cardiovascular
disease;
diabetes; HIV/AIDS; lung cancer; breast cancer; and falls.

In response to these health issues, Advancing the Health of Girls and
Women
in British Columbia: A Provincial Women's Health Strategy, offers a
10-year
collaborative, women-centred approach to address three priority areas:
women's health monitoring and surveillance; maternity care; and mental
health and addiction.

"Mental health and addictions are often interrelated problems," said
Brenda
Locke, Minister of State for Mental Health and Addiction Services for
B.C.
"It is vital that we treat women facing these challenges in the most
effective way possible - and often that will mean treating them
differently
than men."

"A woman's health and well-being can be impacted by so many factors -
including their self-esteem, their education and their mental health,"
said
Ida Chong, Minister of State for Women's and Seniors' Service for B.C.
"We
need to work together to truly advance the health of women through all
stages of life. This strategy will help us work together to improve the
health and well-being of women in B.C. and their families."

Beyond disease and illness, the strategy looks at methods of addressing
access to services, such as maternity care for women in both rural and
urban
areas of B.C.

"Providing maternity services for women across B.C. is becoming more
challenging for a variety of reasons. This strategy provides us with a
road
map to help ensure access to care for all women in B.C.," said Dr. Liz
Whynot, President of BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre.

In addition to mental health and addiction issues and access to
maternity
care, underlying the development of appropriate care for girls and women
is
the need for women-centred research.

"Researchers, policy makers and practitioners need to be strategic in
addressing health conditions or diseases that are more prevalent or
serious
in women, or for which there are different interventions needed for
women
compared to men," explained Dr. Lorraine Greaves, Executive Director of
the
British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women's Health. "We are
committed
to expanding research, evaluation and training in many of the women's
health
issues outlined in this document."

The strategy is the result of combined efforts from two key partners -
BC
Women's Hospital & Health Centre and the British Columbia Centre of
Excellence for Women's Health. The Office of Healthy Children, Women and
Seniors, Ministry of Health Services, and a task group of
representatives
from the regional health authorities and other key women's health
advocates
across the province, provided further input and guidance.

The complete document is available online at www.cw.bc.ca or through the
British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women's Health by calling
604-875-2633.

BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre, an agency of the Provincial Health
Services Authority, provides service for pregnant women, newborns and
women with specialized health needs from across the province. For more
information please visit www.cw.bc.ca.

The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) plans, manages and
evaluates
selected specialty and province-wide health care services
across BC, working with the five geographic health authorities to
deliver
province-wide solutions that improve the health of British Columbians.
For
more information please visit www.phsa.ca.

-30-
Media contact:

BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre
Public Affairs & Communications
604-875-2301
[log in to unmask]

-------------------
Problems/Questions? Send it to Listserv owner: [log in to unmask]


To unsubscribe, send the following message in the text section -- NOT the subject header --  to [log in to unmask]
SIGNOFF SDOH

DO NOT SEND IT BY HITTING THE REPLY BUTTON. THIS SENDS THE MESSAGE TO THE ENTIRE LISTSERV AND STILL DOES NOT REMOVE YOU.

To subscribe to the SDOH list, send the following message to [log in to unmask] in the text section, NOT in the subject header.
SUBSCRIBE SDOH yourfirstname yourlastname

To post a message to all 1000+ subscribers, send it to [log in to unmask]
Include in the Subject, its content, and location and date, if relevant.

For a list of SDOH members, send a request to [log in to unmask]

To receive messages only once a day, send the following message to [log in to unmask]
SET SDOH DIGEST

To view the SDOH archives, go to: http://listserv.yorku.ca/archives/sdoh.html