|
October 9, 2007
Department of Health commemorates National Primary Care Week
In recognition of National Primary Care Week, from October 8th through the 12th, the Virgin Islands Primary Health Care Office (VI PCO) is highlighting the importance of the role primary health care plays in the community’s collective well-being. This national initiative is observed annually and led by the American Medical Student Association (AMSA); since there are no medical schools in the territory, VI PCO has taken the charge to promote the effort locally.
The proverb "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure" holds great literal significance, and the VI PCO is using this week to actively encourage residents of the Virgin Islands to make preventive health—as opposed to subsequent disease treatment—a top priority. Specifically, Friday, October 12th will be Primary Care Awareness Day, during which information about VI PCO and primary health care topics will be available, and various health screening procedures will be offered by both nursing students from the University of the Virgin Islands and staff of the St. Thomas East End Medical Center Corporation (STEEMCC). Also, for those who want to know if they are up-to-date with needed shots, STEEMCC is encouraging interested persons to bring their immunization cards to the event.
The month of October happens to contain a number of local events that are significant to primary care. Among them are:
- October 1-31: Breast cancer screening; by appointment – V. I. Radiology [Ms.
Vickie Marion, Manager]
- October 6: Prostate cancer screening; 10am-3pm [Dr. Derrick Grant,
CKCI]– Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute
- October 12: Primary Care Awareness Day; 11am-2pm [Mrs. Lorna Sutton, VI
PCO] – Emancipation Garden
- October 15, 16, 18, 19: CareForce, 7:30am-6pm [Ms. Merlyndar Crosby, V. I. Medical
Institute] – Various locations throughout the territory
- Oct 15-Nov 19: Breast cancer screening; *tentatively; details available upon
request [Lynette Lopez, Radiology Dept.] - Roy L. Schneider Hospital
- October 24 Breast cancer conference; 12 noon-until [Dr. Derrick Grant, CKCI] –
Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute Auditorium
|
