Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Health Alliance told of pink ribbon campaign results

A pink ribbon campaign last year resulted in 33 percent more Nevada County women getting mammograms than before.

Edie Greenwood, a member of the Prescott-Nevada County Health Alliance, told the group of this increase at its regular monthly meeting Wednesday, May 14.

In Hempstead County, she said, there was a 74 percent increase.

Greenwood credited the increase to Tyson's Poultry allowing breast exams and mammograms to be done at the plant. The company, she said, didn't have to pay anything, just let the women have the time off to get their breasts examined.

The examinations were publicized through a "share the care" campaign, wherein women were given two pink ribbons, one to remind people to get a mammogram and the other to be given to a friend or relative to remind them as well.

Greenwood said this was done through grants, with the alliance still in the grant cycle.

Last year the alliance held the pink ribbon campaign in Nevada County to get information about breast cancer and mammograms to minorities. This was done by giving the ribbons out at area churches.

Greenwood said nothing has been heard concerning getting vending machines installed at Prescott High School to dispense healthy snacks, such as fruits and juices.

The idea, she said, is to get young people weaned away from drinking too many soft drinks and eating junk food.

The annual Health-A-Rama was also discussed. It will be held Saturday, October 4, at the First Baptist Church gymnasium.

There will be a wide variety of health services on hand, including several different screenings. These screenings include testing for diabetes, cholesterol, hearing problems and other health problems.

A planning meeting for the Health-A-Rama will be held Wednesday, June 18, at 7 a.m. at the Broadway Restaurant.

The alliance has been told a grant to cover the cost of public service announcements for prostate cancer has been approved, but the amount has not been released yet.