Staying ‘in the know’ is very Healthy…but here’s what you need to know!

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, February 9, 2023 – The first ever women’s health conference is being held in the Turks and Caicos’s beginning February 24, an admirable effort it exposes a serious but easily remedied issue in women’s health, the lack of available health information.

Staying informed is one of the key ways women and girls of all ages can keep themselves safe and healthy.  By learning the early warning signs of certain diseases, knowing when to get checkups and what to walk into the doctor’s office for women can extend their lifespan significantly.

The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi says some of the most effective ways to improve women’s health are to stay in the know about healthcare matters, including local resources and staying informed on what policies are impacting women’s health.

The Pan-American Health Organization found in 2015, that women’s health needs were still not being adequately met in the Caribbean region, especially women with fewer resources and those in rural areas. Despite progress in the last couple of decades in global health, PAHO says that progress has been uneven.

It maintained that women’s health must be understood from childhood to enact serious change in the levels of chronic diseases, injuries, and mental health disorders in the region

Knowledge is power and that power when shared with those who need it can be life changing.

Caribbean Women in Leadership has put together a list of women’s health resources in the Caribbean, you can find it here. In addition to those resources also include.

• The Caribbean Women’s Health Association (CWHA)
• Your local Department of Gender Affairs
•  Local women’s centers

Residents can also take the opportunity to attend the Turks and Caicos’ first ever Women’s Health Conference: Spilling the Tea on Women’s Health. It’s coming up on February 24th beginning with a Social & Bonfire Night followed by the official conference on the 25th.