YWCA and Businesses Unite to Fight Breast & Cervical Cancer

The YWCA of Greater Lawrence is offering a new breast and cervical cancer initiative to serve temporary, casual, part-time, and full-time female workers who have no health insurance.

This new initiative will enable the Women’s Health Advocacy Services Program to expand its EncorePlus breast health initiative to serve more working women who do not have health insurance.

“It is often very costly for some employers to provide medical insurance for their workforce,” said Vilma Lora, Director of the YWCA’s Women’s Health Advocacy Program. “This initiative allows employers to help their employees link to free medical services such as breast and cervical cancer education and screenings.”

Tom Clancy, Plant Superintendent for Ideal Box, Inc. of Lawrence saw the YWCA program as an opportunity to give back to employees. “In today’s business environment, anything an employer can do to help employees balance family and health issues is important,” said Tom. “I wanted to do something for these ladies who show up every day and work so hard.”

In this new effort, the Women’s Health Advocacy Services Program staff conduct outreach and education on site at area businesses and temporary agencies in the Greater Lawrence area.

Trained YWCA staff, who are fluent in English and Spanish, will be able to link women to free mammograms, Pap tests and follow up services.

The first outreach effort was hosted at Ideal Box where YWCA staff made an educational presentation to women during their lunch breaks and staffed an information booth at the company. As a result, 16 women attended screenings or were linked to health services.

The inivative is made possible through a grant from the Boston Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

We invite temporary employment agencies and Greater Lawrence area businesses to take part in this new project by contacting Vilma Lora at the YWCA at 978-687-0331.

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