Cervical Screening and Women’s Health

Media Release

March 2010

WONS May Day Charity Ball – 21st May

Cervical Screening and Women’s Health in the Community

Celebrating 21 years of service, WONS will hold their inaugural “May Day” Ball on May 21st at the Auckland Museum events centre. The event includes a glamorous night of musical entertainment, culinary delights, a charity auction and dancing.

WONS Spokesperson Ruth Davy is excited to be hosting such a high profile event.

“We wanted to do something really special to celebrate our 21st Anniversary. Thanks to our sponsors and the team putting together the event it’s shaping up to be an amazing night of food, wine and entertainment. We’ve had a lot of interest from the WONS community and other supporters who are helping us with donations, prizes and ticket purchases. I’m overwhelmed at the support we’ve already received,” she says.

WONS was established in 1989 by Ruth Davy and a team of dedicated women’s health nurses. Davy became concerned about the lack of cervical screening out in the wider community and took it upon herself to develop an organization that would take the extra step and work with communities in need.

Today in New Zealand 4,500 women per year get a grade of cancer called “cancer in situ” while approximately 25 to 30% of these cases go undetected and develop into life threatening invasive cancer. WONS ambassadors and nurses go directly into communities in need and work predominantly with Maori, Pacific and Asian women who find it hard to access health care screening.

“At WONS we believe women are the gatekeepers to a healthy family, however they often prioritize their own health needs beyond the needs of their families. Not only do WONS screen and detect women’s health but we also support the women right through the health process,” says Davy.

As well as cervical screening WONS also offers breast checks and sexual health checks to women at risk. On top of which WONS provides women’s health care courses for unemployed women in the community, designed to empower and teach them about important health issues.

WONS May Day Ball tickets can be purchased for $125 through www.iticket.co.nz

Information on auction prize and monetary donations can be emailed to rdavy@wons.org.nz.

WONS would like to thank event sponsors Labtests, The Auckland Museum, The New Zealand Herald, iTICKET, Matua Wines and CSL Biotherapies.

WONS May Day Ball information

Saturday May 21st, 6.30pm – 10.30pm, Auckland Museum Events Centre.

At 6.30pm guests will be welcomed onto the red carpet with a glass of bubbly by fabulous hosts “Buckwheat & Tess” who will set the mood for a vibrant evening. Witty radio host Alison Leonard will play MC through the event and oversee the exciting charity auction. Wellington based Kiwi songstress Iva Lamkum and her band will entertain guests with their funky beats and soulful melodies. While Jo Cotton and the Mermaids will get everyone’s feet tapping and no doubt have guests out of their seats and onto the dance floor but not before guests are treated to a 3 course meal with accompanying wine thanks to Matua Wines.

*Auction Prizes – Include a Suzuki Swift, Grab a Seat flights and Holiday packages, New Zealand Herald advertising, beauty and stylist packages, Westfield shopping vouchers, life coaching and heaps more.

*Goodie Bags – Every guest will be treated to a luxury handmade goodie bag containing beauty treats thanks to Maybelline, a spa voucher, coffee voucher and more.

Tickets available for purchase at www.iticket.co.nz and cost $125(inclusive of GST) plus booking fee.

About WONS

WONS: Nursing, Education and Health Promotion Service is a charitable trust committed to working with and assisting the community, other service providers and government to keep our women and their families well.

WONS services include:

1. health professional training and education
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3. clinical services, including free cervical smears in the community
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5. health promotion services in the community, to build Maori, Pacific and Asian women’s health capacity
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7. consultancy, advisory and research services.
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13. Facts relating to WONS
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15. WONS advocates both regionally and nationally on behalf of women and their families to improve the health and well being of women and their families.
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17. WONS is a charitable trust working with a range of providers across the Auckland region, relying on grants and donations.
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19. WONS provides mobile van clinics to high need areas offering free cervical smears, STI checks, breast checks and advice on a range of women’s health issues.
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21. WONS builds the capacity of health professionals working in primary care around women’s health and vaccinations through NZQA approved courses.
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23. Maori and Pacific women are more likely to die from cervical and breast cancer than other ethnic groups. Maori breast cancer mortality is approx 60% higher than other populations.
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25. Maori women are 60-70% more likely to die from breast cancer, while Pacific women are 22% more likely.
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