Public Health Nurses’ Week will be observed from July 4 to 10, under the theme "Public Health Nurses: Working Towards Re-shaping Communities".

??It will feature several community outreach activities through which nurses will seek to inform the public about child, adolescent, men and women’s health issues, immunisation and the administration of the H1N1 vaccine.

As is customary, the week will begin on Sunday, July 4, with a church service at Bethel Methodist Church, St. Michael from 9:00 a.m.??

On Tuesday, July 6, Women’s Health will be the topic of discussion at the Randall Phillips Polyclinic, where efforts will be concentrated on the Gall Hill and Silver Hill communities.??

Also on that day the nurses from the St. John Outpatient Polyclinic will journey to the Bowmanston Pumping Station, where the focus will be on men’s health issues, specifically prostate cancer.?? The Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test will be administered to check for the levels of the protein produced by cells of the prostate gland and HIV testing will also be conducted.

On Wednesday, July 7, the community outreach will move to the Warrens Polyclinic at the Eden Lodge Community Centre, where "Community Empowerment towards Self-Care – Children, Men and Women’s Health" will be the focus from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ??

The community outreach programme will then shift to the Black Rock Polyclinic on Wednesday July 7, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and to the Grazettes Community Centre, where there will be a Child Health Clinic and the distribution of information on adolescent health, from 9:00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.?? Nurses will offer immunisations and verify that children are up to date with their vaccinations.?? The H1N1 vaccine will also be given free of cost.

Also on that day nurses from the St. Philip Polyclinic will be stationed at Emerald City (in front of the supermarket) from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to give information on men’s health issues, women’s reproductive health and to explain how to conduct breast self-examinations.?? Children will also be examined and growth and developmental milestones discussed with parents.?? The H1N1 vaccine will also be available.

Nurses from the Winston Scott Polyclinic will also be in the vicinity of the Queen’s Park Band Stand on July 7, addressing child, adolescent health and women’s health issues from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The following day, Thursday July 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., persons who live in St. George may visit the Glebe Polyclinic, and obtain information on adolescent health, chronic non-communicable diseases in that age group; nutrition and exercise, etiquette and disaster preparedness, among others.

On Friday, July 9, public health nurses from the Edgar Cochrane Polyclinic will visit the Pine community in St. Michael to assess the needs of the elderly. Their counterparts at the Maurice Byer Polyclinic will, on that same day, be stationed at Jordan’s Supermarket in Speightstown to conduct the PSA blood test for men.?? The H1N1 vaccine will also be administered, subject to availability. ??

????The week will culminate on Saturday, July 10, with a fun walk for the nurses from Browne’s Beach to the South Coast Boardwalk and back, from 6:00 a.m. to 8.00 a.m.?? A short aerobic exercise session will follow.??

Then, later that night there will be a barbeque and karaoke social at the Warrens Polyclinic from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m.?? Tickets are available from the polyclinic and the public is invited to attend.?? lbayley@barbados.gov.bb

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