EVENTS/CALENDAR

Celebrating Black History Month

Black History Month: The celebration of Black History Month began as “Negro History Week,” which was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

NAACP: On February 12, 2019, the NAACP marked its 110th anniversary. Spurred by growing racial violence in the early 20th century, and particularly by 1908 race riots in Springfield, Illinois, a group of African American leaders joined together to form a new permanent civil rights organization, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). February 12, 1909, was chosen because it was the centennial anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.

Heavyweight Champ: Jack Johnson became the first African American man to hold the World Heavyweight Champion boxing title in 1908. He held onto the belt until 1915.

First Lawyer: John Mercer Langston was the first Black man to become a lawyer when he passed the bar in Ohio in 1854. When he was elected to the post of Town Clerk for Brownhelm, Ohio, in 1855 Langston became one of the first African Americans ever elected to public office in America. John Mercer Langston was also the great-uncle of Langston Hughes, famed poet of the Harlem Renaissance.

Famous Protestors and Activists: While Rosa Parks is credited with helping to spark the civil rights movement when she refused to give up her public bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955—inspiring the Montgomery Bus Boycott—the lesser-known Claudette Colvin was arrested nine months prior for not giving up her bus seat to white passengers.

Nearly 300,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical precancers that require treatment each year. Cervical Cancer Awareness Month is in January, which is an excellent time to raise awareness about cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which can help prevent certain malignancies. HPV infections can cause more than only cervical cancer, and they can also lead to invasive cervical precancer testing and treatment. If you need to learn more about cervical cancer, treatment and prevention, read on to learn more.

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the cells of the cervix, which connects the uterus to the vaginal canal. Most cervical cancer is caused by different strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection.

When the body is exposed to HPV, the immune system usually stops the virus from causing harm. Nevertheless, in a small number of people, the virus can live for years, contributing to the transformation of some cervical cells into cancer cells. Cervical cancer can be prevented by having screening tests and getting a vaccine that protects against HPV infection.

Symptoms of cervical cancer

Early-stage cervical cancer is characterized by the presence of symptoms. The symptoms of advanced cancer or cancer that have spread to other parts of the body may be more severe, depending on which tissues and organs have been affected. A symptom could be caused by something other than cancer, that is why you should seek medical help if you develop a new symptom that does not go away. Here are some signs and symptoms to check out:

• Vaginal bleeding occurs after a sexual encounter, during a period, or after menopause.
• Pelvic pain or discomfort during sexual activity.
• Vaginal discharge is watery, crimson, and has a bad odour.

Beginning at the age of 21, contact your doctor for frequent Pap tests to detect cervical cancer in its early stages.

Can human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines help prevent cancer?

You can prevent cervical cancer by taking the human papillomavirus(HPV) vaccine. If given before girls or women are exposed to the virus, this vaccination can prevent most incidences of cervical cancer. This vaccine can also help to prevent cancers of the vaginal and vulvar regions. Also, the vaccine can protect you from genital warts, anal cancers, and mouth, throat, head, and neck cancers.

Why West Oakland Health?

West Oakland Health provides medical treatments geared to women’s health, such as family planning, healthy pregnancy, annual examinations on general health, and postpartum care. We also offer screenings for breast and cervical cancer. West Oakland Health’s expert gynaecologists, nurse practitioners, and nurse midwives provide women’s health services. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

“Of all inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most appalling and inhuman.” 

Martin Luther King Jr. uttered this quote during a 1966 press conference connected to the Medical Committee for Human Rights (MCHR) annual meeting. 

In the fight for health care equity, medical activists often invoke these words to align their movement with the civil rights movement. Racial inequities in health warrant attention as they are in stark contrast in several health dimensions. 

Spoken more than five decades ago, this quote articulates a prophetic truism still relevant in 2022. Today, there’s a 3.8 years’ life expectancy difference between racial and ethnic minorities and whites. Among the most severe racial health disparities are:

• Heart disease
• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Health insurance coverage 
• Birth complications

Drawing inspiration from Dr.King’s message of healthcare inclusivity, many who continue the fight against healthcare inequity stay hopeful that social change will eradicate injustices in healthcare, especially on Martin Luther King Jr.’s day.

Following the fight against COVID-19, it’s clear that the pandemic affects racial and ethnic minorities more. They’re four times more probable than white Americans to get hospitalized when tested positive. 

The West Oakland Health Council, launched fifty years ago, amid the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. It was the backbone of transformation in healthcare advocacy in California. As the neighborhood stronghold for health care, the council aims to improve healthcare for the community it serves. 

The West Oakland Health Council has five clinic sites in Berkley, West Oakland, and East Oakland, mainly within the East Bay. The services offered include:

• Family health care
• Pediatric medicine
• Dental health care
• Ophthalmology
• Behavioral health care

As a recipient of federal grants by the Health Resources and Services Administration, the West Oakland Health Council Medical Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center. We serve those with medical, Medicare, other insurance, and those without insurance.