69th ADA holds Women’s Health Fair and Symposium

Photo By Kimberly Hackbarth | Spc. Lilimae Cobb, a health care specialist with 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade speaks to female Soldiers and family members about sexually-transmitted diseases at the brigade’s Women’s Health Fair and Symposium Nov. 9 on Fort Hood, Texas. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Lessmeister/ 69th ADA Bde. Public Affairs Office)  

KILLEEN, TX, UNITED STATES

11.10.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hackbarth 

69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade

FORT HOOD, Texas – The more female patients Maj. Ezella Washington saw as the brigade surgeon for 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, the more she realized there were issues that many of them were too shy to speak about or did not understand.

In an effort to provide a safe and welcoming environment for discussion about common topics of concern for females, Washington put together the brigade’s first Women’s Health Fair and Symposium held Nov. 9 and 10, here.

Female Soldiers and family members of 69th ADA Brigade attended the two-day event and learned about issues including sexually transmitted diseases, well women exams, common musculoskeletal injuries in females, contraception, nutrition and exercise on the first day.

Washington and health care specialists from the brigade presented informative slideshows to the audience and provided hands-on exercises to better demonstrate their points.

Spc. Dennapa Johnson, a Patriot launching station enhanced operator/maintainer with 1st Battalion, 44th ADA Regiment, 69th ADA Brigade, said the nutrition portion of the fair provided important information for female Soldiers.

“Being in the Army, you have to have a certain weight for your height, so being able to learn about all the nutrition stuff actually gives us a way to find a (healthier) lifestyle,” she said.

Washington said she noticed that, when doing well women exams, women did not know what certain terms meant and what they needed to do to follow up the results.

“Young Soldiers were coming in and asking for [intrauterine device] placements and asking for referrals,” said Washington. “They didn’t really know we do those things in the clinic.”

On the second day, Washington and her team covered health for pregnant Soldiers, Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention, weight loss and weight loss supplements, breastfeeding in the military and other topics.

An issue Washington said she commonly saw was pregnant Soldiers who often cannot do as rigorous physical training as they did prior to pregnancy, so she wanted to ensure Soldiers knew about Fort Hood’s Pregnancy/Postpartum Physical Training Program.

“With Army regulation, they have six months to get back into their height and weight standards, and so we wanted to show safe, effective things they can do during pregnancy,” she said.

Throughout the two days, female Soldiers were able to ask questions and have them answered by the brigade’s medical professionals.

Johnson said she appreciated the brigade’s medical team for putting together the event.

“It helps out females because a lot of us won’t actually go to the clinic to ask for (information), so having them talk about it gives us the opportunity to learn about it without having to be scared,” she explained.

To provide information to male Soldiers and family members, the brigade is slated to hold a men’s health fair in January.

• Date Taken: 11.10.2015
• Date Posted: 02.11.2016 13:30
• Story ID: 188618
• Location: KILLEEN, TX, US