WAHPETON — National Women’s Health Week is being observed May 10-16, encouraging women across the country to prioritize their physical, mental and emotional well-being. Led annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health, the observance focuses on preventive care, routine screenings and improving access to healthcare services for women of all ages.
Locally, the Richland County Health Department is using the week to raise awareness about the importance of women taking time to care for their own health amid busy schedules and daily responsibilities.
“Women are often so busy taking care of everyone else that they forget to prioritize their own health,” said Kaci Manikowski, LPN, TTS, CPST, and health services professional with the Richland County Health Department. “Both mentally and physically, it’s important to make your own well-being a priority and give yourself permission to slow down and care for yourself too.”
According to Manikowski, mental health remains one of the biggest concerns affecting women today, especially as many juggle work, parenting, caregiving and household responsibilities without much downtime.
“Mental health is huge,” she said. “Women today live very busy lifestyles. They take care of their family, friends, house, a lot of them work full time or stay home with their children 24/7 on top of all of the rest and never really get a break.”
She said preventive healthcare is also critical because routine screenings can help detect serious health conditions early, often leading to better treatment outcomes.
“Routine screenings can help detect several serious conditions early, including breast cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease,” Manikowski said.
She encouraged women to stay current on annual wellness visits, blood work, breast exams and recommended screenings such as mammograms and Pap tests. Women over 40 are advised to receive yearly mammograms, while Pap screenings are generally recommended every three to five years depending on age and medical history.
In rural communities, women can face additional barriers to healthcare, including transportation challenges, long travel distances for specialty care and limited access to mental health and maternity services.
“I encourage North Dakota women to look into Women’s Way if transportation, lack of insurance or high deductibles are a concern for mammograms and Paps,” Manikowski said.
Despite those challenges, she noted that communities such as Wahpeton, Breckenridge, Hankinson and Lidgerwood continue to offer local healthcare access through clinics, hospitals and public health services, including mobile mammography programs.
The Richland County Health Department provides several services specifically focused on women’s health, including Women’s Way screenings, family planning services, WIC nutrition support, STI testing and treatment, immunizations and maternal and child health programs.
For pregnant women and new mothers, additional services include newborn home visiting programs, lactation support, crib and car seat programs and referrals to healthcare providers.
Manikowski said families also play an important role in helping women maintain healthy lifestyles by encouraging routine care, helping with responsibilities at home and supporting mental wellness.
“Simple things like helping with childcare, preparing healthy meals together, or just being understanding of a busy schedule can make it much easier for women to maintain healthy habits,” she said.
As awareness surrounding women’s health continues to grow, Manikowski said she is hopeful about the future of rural healthcare access and support services.
“Access to healthcare shouldn’t be another burden,” she said. “Hopefully improving that access is what really gives me hope for the future for women and our rural community as a whole.”
Shoba Dasari is the assistant managing editor for the Wahpeton Daily News and Richland County News-Monitor. Shoba can be reached by calling (701) 291-3548 or emailing shoba.dasari@wahpetondailynews.com.