Today is International Women's Day

Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, and around the world, people are gathering to attend events honoring and celebrating women and bringing attention to important issues.

In Loma Linda and the surrounding communities, there are several medical facilities and charities that focus on women, and it’s not surprising, given the city’s roots - one of the pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist faith was Ellen Gould White, whose writings are still revered by SDA faithful.

The first International Women’s Day was held on March 19, 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. More than one million men and women marched in rallies that day. In 1975 - which was the International Women’s Year - the UN began to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8. Every year there is a different theme, and 2011’s is “Equal access to education, training and science and technology: pathway to decent work for women.”

Loma Linda offers education, training, science and technology in a multitude of platforms, from Loma Linda Academy to Loma Linda University Medical Center to Loma Linda University. Read on to find out more community resources that benefit women.

Health Care at Your Fingertips

At Loma Linda University Medical Center, there are several centers that have specific departments catering to women, including cancer treatment, pelvic health and gynecology, urinary and bladder health, obstetrics and perinatal care, and women’s imaging (MRIs, CT scans, breast and bone imaging). Help is available with fertility, menopause, and weight management, and online, the medical center offers a Women’s Center with information on everything from pregnancy to exercise to how to quit smoking. The goal of the Women’s Center is to provide in-depth information on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of conditions for women of all ages.

Special Care for Women Veterans

Women are the fastest growing group within the veteran population, and they can find the health care they need at the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System's Center for Women’s Health. Medical services include breast and cervical cancer screenings, family planning, contraceptive counseling and management, osteoporosis evaluation and care, and reproductive health care. The Center for Women’s Health also provides sexual trauma counseling, substance abuse treatment and psychological support groups.

Volunteer Anytime

Family Service Association of Redlands has been serving the area since 1898, working to help alleviate poverty, encourage self-sufficiency, and promote the dignity of all people. Services include basic life skills training, rental and utility assistance, holiday food baskets, clothing, emergency and surplus food distribution, and more. Volunteers are always welcome to help sort distribution items, give computer skills training, assist with child care, write grants, serve on boards and committees and identify affordable housing. Volunteers can help make a difference, weekly, monthly or just during specific projects - whatever works best for each person.

Become one of 34 Million Friends

Jane Roberts of Redlands is known around the world for her 34 Million Friends organization, which she founded in 2002 with Lois Abraham. The goal of the group was to raise one dollar donations that would reestablish the funding cut from the UNFPA by George W. Bush. Millions of dollars later, the group is still fighting hard for global access to family planning tools. Roberts will be speaking at the University of Redlands’ Casa Loma Room Wednesday, March 9, at 7 p.m.

Make a Difference via Google

Anyone, anywhere can contribute to charities and groups around the world thanks to the Internet. Today, Google is making it easy to donate to such diverse organizations as Dress for Success, Women for Women, Girl Scouts, Every Mother Counts and Women’s Aid - on a special page, visitors can make monetary donations for economic security, empowerment, education, equality and leadership, health and safety and security groups. No donation is too small.

Did you know?

*According to the International Organization for Women Foundation, 99 percent of maternal deaths are preventable, yet a woman dies every minute from pregnancy-related causes. 

*Women are 2/3 of the world’s 800 million illiterate adults.

*If a girl in Africa receives an education, she’ll earn 25 percent more income, will be three times less likely to contracts HIV/AIDS and will have a smaller family, according to Camfed USA.

*WfWI reports that Women perform 2/3 of the world’s work and produce half the world’s food, but earn just 10 percent of the income and own one percent of the property.

*According to UNDP and MWOMAN, 75 percent of all women cannot get bank loans, due to unpaid or insecure jobs.