In an effort to enhance the health and wellness of women in Burlington County, Freeholder Director Kate Gibbs today announced that the Freeholder Board is partnering with Virtua to offer free mobile mammogram screenings on Tuesday, October 23 at the Burlington County Health Department in Westampton. This new, one-day event, which coincides with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, comes as the Board continues to identify and address the unique needs of women.
“The unfortunate reality is that breast cancer has become entirely too common these days, with seemingly every woman knowing a friend, family member, or co-worker who has been impacted by this terrible disease,” said Freeholder Director Gibbs. “As someone who has a family history of breast cancer, it’s so important that women are screened regularly. I am proud to partner with Virtua and provide this important service to our residents at no cost.”
The event will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and is open to all women who reside in Burlington County and are between the ages of 40 and 64; insurance is not required to receive a mammogram screening. Women do not have to preregister, but they are strongly encouraged to do so by calling Virtua at (856) 247-7388.
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women, with an estimated 266,000 new cases in 2018 alone. The national non-profit recommends that women begin annual mammograms at the age of 40. The procedure can often find or detect breast cancer early, when it’s the easiest to treat.
“Being proactive about our health and wellness is the best thing we can do as women,” added Freeholder Director Gibbs. “While we offer this upcoming mammogram event, we will continue to find ways to improve the quality of life of women in Burlington County.”
As Burlington is the only county in New Jersey that’s led by two women, this dynamic has presented a unique opportunity to truly make a difference in the lives of women in our communities. Earlier this year, Freeholder Director Gibbs and Deputy Director Linda Hughes reinvigorated the Burlington County Women’s Advisory Council, which works to raise public awareness of the special needs and roles of women, provide career mentoring opportunities, and much more.
At the same time, Gibbs and Hughes promoted gender equality in the workplace by adopting an equal pay resolution and mandatory sexual harassment training and retraining for all county employees. In addition, they placed new, dedicated private spaces to pump or nurse in county buildings. This small investment alleviates a big concern for new mothers returning to work, while supporting county employees, residents and their families.
The Burlington County Health Department is located at 15 Pioneer Blvd. in Westampton. The mobile mammograms are being administered by the New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection Program at Virtua.