News
Health Unit Taking Breast Screening Message to the Streets
SIMCOE, OCTOBER 1, 2010 – The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit is using a bold, new approach to promote breast screening through regular mammograms. Health units in Central West Ontario and project partners are celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month by taking the message to the streets with eye-catching billboards.
Bright pink billboards stating: Mammograms save lives – spread the word, will be placed at heavily trafficked areas in Haldimand and Norfolk counties and surrounding areas. The billboards also promote beabreastfriend.ca, a website providing information and resources about breast screening.
“We’re hoping that when people see these big pink signs on the side of the road it will remind them to make their appointment for a mammogram,” says Michele Crowley, Health Promoter with the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit.
The billboards are an expansion of the ‘Be a Breast Friend’ project, a project that recruited hair stylists to spread the word of early detection with their clients, and encouraged everyone to be a Breast Friend. Stylists can find out how to be a Breast Friend in their salon by visiting the website.
“A Breast Friend can be someone who takes the time for their own breast screening or someone who shares the importance of screening with loved ones,” noted Crowley.
Women aged 50 and older can book their own appointments for a free mammogram at their local Ontario Breast Screening Program [OBSP]. Once a woman joins the program, mammogram results are shared directly with her, as well as her physician, and women automatically receive an invitation to come back in two years.
Locally, the OBSP is offered at Norfolk General Hospital in Simcoe and now at West Haldimand General Hospital in Hagersville. For an appointment in Simcoe, call 519-426-4006, for Hagersville call 905-768-3311 ext 1116.
There will be three billboards in Haldimand and Norfolk: in Delhi at King and Main Streets; in Simcoe at Norfolk North and Davis Streets and on Hwy 6 in Hagersville.
Be a Breast Friend project partners include health units in Haldimand-Norfolk, Brant, Hamilton, Halton and Niagara, the Ontario Breast Screening Program and the Canadian Cancer Society – Central West Region. Project funding provided by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Ontario Region.
Mammograms save lives – spread the word!
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Media contact:
Michele Crowley
Health Promoter
Population Health Team
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
Ext. 3239 at either 519-426-6170 or 905-318-6623
[email protected]