White House Invites Spirit of Women to Talk Health Disparities

WASHINGTON, March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit of Women® President and National Program Director, Tanya Abreu, is among the select U.S. healthcare leaders invited by the Domestic Policy Council and the Office of National AIDS Policy to the White House on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. First Lady Michelle Obama, an advocate for women's health and domestic violence awareness, has also been invited and is expected to attend. The speakers and panelists will discuss the intersection of HIV/AIDS, violence against women, and gender related health disparities and how the juncture of these issues impact women's lives both globally and domestically.

Of the opportunity Abreu notes, "It is an honor to be representing the more than 150 American hospitals that comprise the Spirit of Women Health Network. We know that hospitals are on the front line of healthcare reform and are driven to reduce disparities in healthcare for women and minorities. As a hospital network we are taking action today to ensure healthier communities tomorrow."

With March 10th having been National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, this topic is fresh in the minds of White House and Administration officials and Wednesday's meeting is another step closer to achieving the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). NHAS is an initiative launched in July 2010 by the White House with the goals of reducing new HIV infections, increasing access to care and improving health outcomes for people living with HIV and reducing HIV-related health disparities (http://www.aids.gov/federal-resources/policies/national-hiv-aids-strategy/).

Spirit of Women is honored to participate as a key influencer of U.S. health policy through its many advocacy relationships and connectivity to academic centers of excellence, national health organizations and governmental health agencies including a longstanding partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health.

About Spirit of Women

Spirit of Women® is a national coalition of hospitals and healthcare facilities in more than 100 U.S. cities joined together to improve women's health by inspiring access and action on local, regional, and national levels.  Spirit of Women hospitals touch the lives of millions of women each year through the presentation of educational events and programming, consumer membership programs, annual conferences, marketing communications and other grassroots efforts to improve the health and well-being of women everywhere.  Seeking to improve overall community health status and hospital financial strength, Spirit of Women hospitals address a wide range of health topics affecting women and their families including cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases, pelvic health, diabetes, orthopedics, healthy pregnancy, domestic violence prevention and many more.  For more information, visit www.spiritofwomen.com.  If you are a hospital looking to become a leader in your community, please contact Tanya Abreu at 561-544-2034.

SOURCE Spirit of Women