Women’s Health Screenings Available
Senior Health and Peer Counseling, the Santa Monica-based service agency, is participating in a program funded by the federal Centers for Disease Control to bring free breast and cervical screening and follow-up to women older than 50. The program targets low-income, uninsured women.
Holly Nuckols, director of health services at the agency, said her initial goal is to reach 500 women.
“The program is not going to sell itself,” she said. “We want to reach women who don’t qualify for Medicare or Medi-Cal. . . . Even with our resources we just don’t know how to reach the 50-60 group. Studies have shown that about 25% of women never have mammograms, and that others stop having them after the age of 50.”
Screenings began in May. If a lump is found, a free mammogram is arranged at St. John’s Hospital.
Appointments for the screenings can be made by calling Senior Health and Peer Counseling at (310) 829-4715. The agency is at 2125 Arizona Ave., Santa Monica.
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