Taking It To the Streets: Following the Funds in Kansas

How do you encourage women (and men) to pay attention to their breast health?  According to Erma Patterson, BSN, Health Educator with the Geary County Health Dept., you go to the churches, you go to the beauty shops, and you talk to people at Wal-Mart or Dillons. 

“I’ve literally walked the streets of Junction City getting the education and information out.” said Patterson.   “The town knows me as the breast cancer lady and that’s okay.”
 

Since breast cancer and other women’s health issues were not discussed in the African American culture Erma grew up in, it wasn’t until after she began working in breast cancer education that she found out how much the disease has touched her life.  First she found out both her husband’s mother and aunt were survivors.  Then the disease took the life of a friend at age 37 and renewed Patterson’s mission.

“What is missing, how do we get the message across?” Patterson asked when discussing how to help African American women understand the need for regular mammograms and breast exams.

Patterson feels the support of Susan G. Komen, her administrator and the community.  The Komen grant is providing breast health screenings, mammograms/follow-up referrals, and breast cancer risk education to 3000 African American women in Geary County.  And Erma Patterson will continue her work to encourage women (and men), young and old to take care of their breast health and to help them navigate the process.

“If someone needs information, I’ll be there with my Komen DVD and education materials; whatever needs to be done.”

The Geary County Health Department has been serving the Junction City, Geary County and the Fort Riley area since 1949.

For more information about this and other services in Geary County