The Louisiana Department of Health’s (LDH) Office of Women’s Health and Community Health (OWHCH) concludes its “Listen to H.E.R.: Hearing, Empowering, Responding” town hall series on Monday, November 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the West Monroe Community Center, 400 S. 5th St., West Monroe.
This is the last of nine town halls held to raise awareness of the new OWHCH, promote the many LDH services and programs available to residents, and collect feedback on the diverse health needs of women in Louisiana to inform the office’s priorities and future programming. Attendees will also be able to participate in health screenings, listen to personal testimonies from special guests and more. The first town hall was held in Baton Rouge on March 21.
“Hearing directly from the community allows us to give a voice to women’s health needs across their lifespan and better understand views on access to healthcare, mental wellness and preventative care,” said OWHCH Assistant Secretary Dr. Torrie Harris, Dr.P.H., MPH. “Progress comes from actively listening to women and responding in a way that makes them feel seen and heard in healthcare, where traditionally they may not have always felt that they were.”
“Women are one of our most underserved populations and this Town Hall series provides a way for us to listen to their concerns and better understand how to meet their needs,” said Region 8 Medical Director Dr. Tonya Hunter. “We are proud to welcome the Office of Women’s Health and Community Health to Northeast Louisiana and I encourage you to come out and be a part.”
Created during the 2022 Legislative Session, OWHCH provides an agency-wide focus on women’s health and improving outcomes through policy, education, evidence-based practices, programs and services. The office aims to be a clearinghouse, coordinating agency and resource center for women’s health data and strategies, focusing on issues such as needs throughout a woman’s life, chronic or acute conditions, access to healthcare,; how poverty impacts women’s health, leading causes of morbidity and mortality, and health disparities.