Statement from Surgeon General, Dr. Regina M. Benjamin, on the Importance of Celebrating National Women’s Health Week and Empowering Women to Make Their Health a Top Priority Mother’s Day, May 9, marks the start of National Women’s Health Week, a weeklong observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health.
With the theme “It’s Your Time,” the goal of National Women’s Health Week is to empower women to make their health a top priority and encourage them to take small, manageable steps to improve their health and reduce their risk for many diseases.
On Mother’s Day, women across the country will celebrate with family and friends. This year, I also encourage women to celebrate themselves by focusing on their health and well-being. The most important steps women can take to improve their health include eating a well balanced, nutritious diet; getting regular physical activity; avoiding unhealthy behaviors, like smoking; and paying attention to mental health. In addition, women should get regular checkups and preventive screenings. May 10 is National Women’s Checkup Day, and I urge all women to make an appointment with their health care professional.
In honor of National Women’s Health Week and National Women’s Checkup Day, more than one thousand events will take place across the country.
To find an event near you, visit: http://www.womenshealth.gov/whw/events/.
During National Women’s Health Week it is important to tell our wives, mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, and girlfriends to make the time to improve their health, prevent disease, and live longer, healthier, and happier lives. After all, when women take even simple steps to improve their health, the results can be significant and everyone benefits.
