Author: franciabautistasanchez

Most cervical cancers (up to 93%) can be prevented with screening and vaccination.  January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Anyone with a cervix can get cervical cancer, which occurs most often in people older than 30. When found early, cervical cancer is highly treatable and most people go on to live long, healthy lives.   Screening  People should get screened for cervical cancer regularly, even if they received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Screening options include Pap tests and HPV. These tests can […]

Influenza – or flu activity in Oregon started to rise in early November, and in the last few weeks, has been spreading faster. As of December 27, about 14.8% of flu tests across the state were positive, slightly lower than 15.9% the previous week. This positivity rate indicates high flu transmission.  Most flu going around […]

Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Oregon, affecting thousands of families every year. With about 22,000 new cancer diagnoses annually, the impact of this disease reaches far beyond patients—it touches caregivers, communities, and workplaces. In response, the Oregon Health & Science University’s Knight Cancer Institute and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) have published the […]

As Oregonians celebrate the holiday season, state agencies renew their call to “Rethink the Drink” – encouraging people to pause, reflect and make mindful and healthy choices when it comes to their alcohol consumption.  Leading this effort is Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Oregon Alcohol & Drug Policy Commission (ADPC) Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission (OLCC) […]

Oregon Health Authority strongly supports the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) recommendation that newborns continue to receive hepatitis B vaccination at birth.   The West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) is a partnership between California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington to ensure that public health recommendations are guided by safety, efficacy, transparency, access and trust.  WCHA recommends that newborns […]

As we gather with friends and loved ones during the holiday season, drinking alcohol may be on the menu. Oregon Health Authority’s Rethink the Drink initiative encourages us to find ways to enjoy the season safely.   Alcohol ads and marketing can seem to be everywhere    Many of us cross the line into drinking too much, […]

An initiative to build a more diverse, culturally responsive behavioral health workforce is preparing Oregon students for a future career in the field.       High school juniors and seniors are gaining real world experience to explore potential career paths in behavioral health through the High School Behavioral Health Career and Technical Education (CTE) grant program offered […]

More than one in five Oregon eighth- and 11th-graders experienced unmet mental or physical health care needs in 2022, according to a new state Student Health Survey (SHS) report developed with Oregon youth using the most recent data available.  The findings paint a sobering picture of the challenges youth face in accessing essential care, and […]