Well women's clinic

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 307, 3 October 1989, Page 14

Well women's clinic

Two further Well Women's Clinics are to be held in the Waimarino, offering a variety of health screening services by the Public Health Nurses and female Medical Officer from the Wanganui Area Health Board.

The clinics are being held in conjunction with the National Cervical Screening Research Programme of which the WAHB is a pilot region for the programme. This is a programme based on the 1988 Judge Sylvia Cartwright report on the inquiry in to the treatment of cervical cancer at National Women's Hospital. A regional register has been established. As well as encouraging all >vomen to have regular smears and making it easier for them to do so, the programme will give women the opportunity to be part of a local computerised register which will remind them

when a smear is due. The register also checks that abnormal smears are followed up. Enrolment is voluntary and confidentiality is a top priority. It is predicated that one in 30 NZ women will have pre-cancerous changes to the cervix. This is a major health concern and having regular cervical smears is very important for all sexually active women. Even of they have only had sex once, or not for many years a smear test needs to be taken. Smear tests should be done ai least once every three years, checking for any early changes in the cervix which could become cancerous.

Cervical screening will be offered at the Well Women's Clinics, or women may just enrol on the register. Other health screening services will include height and weight checks; blood pressure checks; blood glucose testing; vision and hearing tests; family planning advice; breast self-examination teaching and dietary advice. Information pamphlets and videos relating to women's health will also be available on such topics as smoking and alcohol, premenstrual tension, menopause, and STD's. The clinics will be held from 10am-6pm this Thursday 5 October at the Community Health Rooms in Raetihi, and Thursday 26 October at 99 Goldfinch Street, Ohakune. The services will be free with no appointment necessary.

Helen

Pocknall

Public Health Nurse