Planned Parenthood Vice President to Speak on Reproductive Health at Bliss Towers

ALBANY, NY (04/16/2010)(readMedia)-- Dr. Christine Pluviose, Vice President for Patient Services at Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood ( UHPP) will speak on "Women's Health Needs across the Lifespan" this coming Thursday, April 22 from 6:00 to 7:30pm at Bliss Towers Community Room, 41 North Second Street, in Hudson. The event is the fourth community event in a series sponsored by the Women's Health Project, a collaboration between the University at Albany and Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood. The goal of the project is to assist low income women in obtaining quality reproductive health care and in identifying and reaching the agencies that can provide these services.

Pluviose will address a range of topics including age related health concerns, resources for reproductive and sexual health in Hudson, and age appropriate medical interventions beginning with teens and continuing through to the health concerns of women age 65 and older.

Also on site will be staff and information from Upper Hudson Planned and several local community health organizations. There will be a free cholesterol testing, refreshments, safe sex kits, travel vouchers to and from the UHPP Hudson health center and a raffle for prizes. Patients inquiring about UHPP services will have the opportunity to make future appointments. Jeanette Johnson, Community Outreach Associate for the Women's Health Project, will be present to answer questions before and after for guests about local health services, the project and upcoming events.

"I think this presentation is the foundation for the whole research project. We know that for many women of color living in Columbia County, their life circumstances often prohibits them from becoming aware of, and taking advantage of, available health services. Our goal is to help them overcome these challenges and find ways to take care of their personal health care needs" said Rob Curry, UHPP Senior Vice President for External Affairs."

The Women's Health Project is funded is a collaboration between Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood (UHPP) and the University at Albany Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities (CEMHD) funded through a grant from the National Center of Minority Health and Health Disparities at the National Institutes of Health. Members of the Community Advisory Board for the Women's Health Project include: Columbia County Community Healthcare Consortium, Columbia County Department of Health, Columbia Memorial Hospital, Columbia Opportunities, Hudson Housing Authority, Mental Health Association of Columbia-Greene Counties, Operation Unite Education and Cultural Arts Center, Overcomers Ministries International, and Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood.

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Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood (UHPP) is a community-based non-profit organization providing advocacy, education and medical services for reproductive health care since 1934. In 2008, over 11,000 patients made 22,257 visits to UHPP health centers located in Albany, Hudson and Troy. UHPP health educators present over 500 education programs reaching over 6,000 youth and young adults each year. UHPP services are delivered with special concern for the underserved.