The Louisiana Department of Health's (LDH) Office of Women’s Health and Community Health (OWHCH) is continuing its “Listen to H.E.R.: Hearing, Empowering, Responding” town hall series, with the next town hall taking place in Houma.
The town hall will be held on Monday, October 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Terrebonne General Health System Medical Atrium Auditorium, 8120 Main St., Houma.
This is the eighth 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.
Community members can register online for the event at no cost here.
“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, PH, 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.”
"Understanding the unique health needs of women in our communities is not just a matter of statistics, it's a matter of recognizing their fundamental right to wellbeing," said Region 3 Medical Director Dr. Eric Brooks. "By identifying and addressing the health disparities that women face, we can empower them to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. When we invest in the health of women, we invest in the health of our communities and our future."
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.
Operationalizing OWHCH was one of 17 key initiatives outlined in LDH’s FY23 business plan, “Invest: Teaming Up for a Stronger LDH and a Healthier Louisiana.”