Why Columbus, Ohio?
Ohio was the nineteenth stop on a nationwide campaign to rally communities to Close the Gaps that make breast cancer deadlier for poor women and women of color. More than 6,700 Ohio women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,800 will die of the disease this year. Gaps in access to information, screening, quality care, and research have contributed to Ohio's ranking of 4th in the nation in breast cancer mortality.
Did You Know?
Ohio ranks 29th in the nation in the incidence of breast cancer, yet has the fourth highest breast cancer mortality rate in the US.
Public Policy Challenge
The focus of the Komen Community Challenge was to thank the legislature for all they have done in the fight against breast cancer. This year, the Ohio state screening program only received federal funding and did not receive any state dollars. Due to lack of funding, the Ohio Breast and Cervical Cancer Project screened fewer than 10,000 - only 10 percent - of the uninsured or underinsured women eligible for the program. The Susan G Komen for the Cure applauds the Ohio legislature for recently allocating $5 million in the states budge proposal for the Ohio Breast and Cervical Cancer Project, increasing the number of women screened by 8,000 this year.
The Events
The Community Challenge in Ohio was kicked off on January 22 at a tour of OhioHealth Riverside Breast Health Center and a community forum at the Ohio Statehouse, Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-12), Ohio Senator Tom Niehaus (R-14) and Ohio Representative Joyce Beatty (D-27) voiced support for closing the gaps that cause breast cancer to be deadlier for low-income women, minorities and the uninsured.
Komen presented awards to Senator Niehaus and Representative Beatty for their leadership in passing a $5 million appropriation for Ohio Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Project. It is estimated that this first-ever State appropriation will increase the number of women screened from 10,000 to 18,000 per year. TV anchor and breast cancer survivor Heather Pick moderated a panel discussion of breast cancer activists and experts who discussed closing the gap in access to breast health care.
The day concluded with a reception for breast cancer survivors and advocates hosted by First Lady Frances Strickland at the Governor's residence.
