Press Releases
Year
CUPHD Honors National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month By Providing Access To FREE Mammograms, Pap Tests, Breast & Pelvic Exams for Uninsured Women in Illinois!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2009
Contact
Cathy Propst, IBCCP Program Coordinator
(217) 531-2916
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
CUPHD Honors National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month By Providing Access To FREE Mammograms, Pap Tests, Breast & Pelvic Exams for Uninsured Women in Illinois!
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s IBCCP Program to Hold Enrollment Days in Bloomington, Champaign & Danville in Upcoming Month
Champaign, IL – The local office of the Illinois Breast & Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP), located at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), will be holding program enrollment days for uninsured women ages 35-64. Once enrolled in the IBCCP program, qualified women will have access to FREE mammograms, pap tests, breast and pelvic exams.
Enrollment days will include:
McLean County:
Friday, January 16, 2009
9:00am – 3:00pm
Normal Public Library
206 West College Avenue
Normal, IL 61761
- AND -
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
8:30am – 12:30pm & 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Community Healthcare Clinic
902 Franklin Avenue
Normal, IL 61761
Vermilion County:
Friday, January 16, 2009
8:30am – 12:00pm & 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Aunt Martha’s Vermilion Area Community Health Center
614 North Gilbert
Danville, IL 61832
Champaign County:
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
8:00am – 12:00pm & 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Frances Nelson Health Center
819 West Bloomington Road
Champaign, IL 61820
- AND -
Thursday, January 22, 2009
11:00am – 7:00pm
Fashion Bug
1901 North Market Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Enrollment is quick and easy. Women are requested to bring proof of age and income to complete the enrollment process. A representative of the IBCCP program will be available to answer questions.
Interested women unable to attend one of the scheduled enrollment days are encouraged to contact the IBCCP program at the new CUPHD location at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign or call 217-373-9281 or toll free at 1-877-811-0193 for additional information on the IBCCP program or the enrollment process.
“Breast and cervical cancer are serious concerns for women”, said Cathy Propst, Program Coordinator of the IBCCP for CUPHD. “Statistics show that as a woman ages, her chance of developing breast cancer increases. Mammograms, pap tests, breast, and pelvic exams promote early detection and increase the chance for successful treatment and overall survival rates for women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer.”
Cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States. However the deaths from cervical cancer have decreased due largely to women having access to regular pap tests and pelvic exams. Regular pap tests are a crucial tool in identifying cervical cancer or pre-cancerous conditions. Early detection of precancerous conditions significantly increases the chance of a successful treatment. Early detection is the BEST protection. Last year over 11,000 women in the United States were diagnosed with cervical cancer, and over 3,500 died from the disease.
Not counting some kinds of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common kind of cancer in women in the United States. Last year over 40,000 women died from breast cancer, and 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer sometime in their lives.
For more information on the Illinois Breast & Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP) or any other CUPHD program, please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.cuphd.org.
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Radon Gas Causes More Than 20,000 Lung Cancer Deaths in the Country Each Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2009
Contact
Michael Flanagan, Environmental Health Specialist I
(217) 531-2908
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Radon Gas Causes More Than 20,000 Lung Cancer Deaths in the Country Each Year
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to Test Their Homes with Free Radon Test Kit
Champaign, IL – January is National Radon Action Month, and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) encourages citizens to learn more about the radon threat and test their homes for the presence of radon. CUPHD has a limited number of FREE radon test kits available for residents of Champaign County. Test kits may be picked up at the Environmental Health Division of CUPHD located at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign from 8:00am – 4:00pm; Monday through Friday. Test kits will be available for residents of Champaign County until the supply is depleted.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to indoor radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas released into the air from decaying matter in rocks, soil, and water. While levels in outdoor air are relatively harmless, radon can accumulate to dangerous levels inside buildings. Radon is an invisible threat, it cannot be seen, smelled or tasted; the only way to detect radon is to perform a radon test.
The free test kits provided by CUPHD are safe and easy to use. Simply open the test kit, and place the radon detector in a designated area in the home for a minimum of 48 hours, with windows and doors closed. After 48 hours, place detector in the enclosed postagepaid envelope and send it to a lab for a free analysis. The lab will then inform you of your radon test results.
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). The EPA recommends that homes with radon levels of 4 pCi/L or higher should be mitigated. The national average home reading is about 1.3 pCi/L. The average outdoor reading is about 0.4 pCi/L.
Radon presents a serious health risk, but it can be controlled easily and cost effectively. If a high radon level is detected in your home, you can take steps to fix the problem to protect yourself and your family. Test your home and protect your health today.
For more information on radon or free radon test kits for Champaign County residents, please contact CUPHD at (217) 373-7900 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.cuphd.org.
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Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Provide Much Needed Dental Services for Local Infants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2008
Contact
Alicia Ekhoff, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-4538
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Provide Much Needed Dental Services for Local Infants
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Hold Special Walk-In Dental Clinics for Champaign County Infants
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be holding special infant (ages 0-35 months) dental clinics on December 18 & 19, 2008 and January 28 & 29, 2009. Clinics will be held from 1:00pm – 4:00pm on a walk-in basis at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign. CUPHD Dental in collaboration with the CUPHD Division of Maternal and Child Health will provide Infant Oral Education, Infant Oral Health Evaluations, and Fluoride Varnish Treatments for Champaign County children age 0-35 months with moderate to high risk factors for developing Early Childhood Caries (decay). Infant clinics are available for all children in Champaign County with All Kids or Medicaid.
This new collaboration will utilize a “lap-to-lap” approach, where the infant will rest in the lap of the parent while a Registered Dental Hygienist provides an oral health screening and oral health training. Not only will the parents receive “hands on” training for the care of their infant’s teeth, but they will also receive a FREE infant or toddler toothbrush to help them care for their child’s teeth along with a booklet about how to keep their child’s teeth healthy. Appointments are not necessary; however, a parent or legal guardian must accompany their child and bring the child’s current All Kids or Medicaid card.
CUPHD plans to continue the infant dental clinic beyond the posted January dates. Infant dental clinics will be available two afternoons each month on a walk-in basis. This program will be available in CUPHD Dental located in the main lobby of CUPHD to the right of the CUPHD check-in desk. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of this and many other CUPHD dental programs when visiting CUPHD for other programs.
“Oral health is a good indicator of a child’s overall health,” said Alicia Ekhoff, Dental Program Coordinator for CUPHD. “Many diseases and deficiencies can be readily identified through a routine oral health screening. Simple daily attention to oral health will produce a healthy body as well as a healthy smile!”
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s Dental Division offers general dental care to children age 3-18 who live in Champaign or Urbana at their location at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign. Children age 18 must still be enrolled in the Champaign or Urbana school districts. Appointments are available Monday thru Friday; 8:00am – 4:00pm by calling 217-531-4279. Children enrolled in the Urbana School District may also be seen at the Urbana School Health Center located in the Urbana High School. Appointments are available Monday thru Friday; 8:00am – 4:00pm by calling 217-239-4220.
For more information on the CUPHD dental program or any other CUPHD service or program please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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