WHEREAS, National Women’s Health Week celebrates the extraordinary progress in women’s health and recognizes that more needs to be done to safeguard the health of women for generations to come; and

WHEREAS, according to the Nevada State Health Division’s Bureau of Health Planning and Statistics, 1,596 Nevada women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005; and

WHEREAS, 2,073 women in Nevada did not receive prenatal care in 2007; and

WHEREAS, the number of women in Nevada diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease in 2007 was 8,059; and

WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of women in the nation who did not have health or medical insurance in 2006 was 126,352.

WHEREAS, women from all walks of life and at every stage of life, have unique health needs that should be addressed in their own right; and

WHEREAS, keeping women healthy and safe, by promoting awareness of women’s health issues depends on partnerships with social, health and other services; and

WHEREAS, women can promote health and prevent disease and illness by taking simple steps to improve their physical, mental, social and spiritual health; and

WHEREAS, women’s health remains a priority for families, communities, and government, and our commitment to keeping women healthy is stronger than ever.

NOW, THEREFORE I, JIM GIBBONS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim May 11-17, 2008 as