Dr. Maya Angelou has long been an international advocate for women, and has a proven track record of giving back to her community.  So it is no surprise that Dr. Angelou has teamed up with Novant Health (Forsyth Medical Center) to open the new, state of the art, Maya Angelou Center for Women’s Health and Wellness, in her hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” Dr. Maya Angelou

Described by Forsyth Medical as “a new concept in women’s health”, the facility is touted as being the ”region’s first center to coordinate comprehensive healthcare and wellness services specifically designed to meet the unique needs of women through every stage of life.”  The center’s programs and services focus on a range of health issues affecting women, including childbirth, obesity, heart disease and gynecological conditions, all focusing heavily on preventive care.

Dr. Maya Angelou said that she finds healthcare a crucial challenge.  And she believes that health must be looked at in the context of socioeconomic factors, culture, politics and access to healthcare.  Dr. Angelou has made North Carolina her home for nearly three decades.  Angelou says this region of the country “serves as an object lesson in racial and economic disparities. … It’s unfortunate that there are such gaps between the haves and have nots.  The poor, some haven’t been to a doctor in 10 years.”  The new center plans to change that by offering a wide array of healthcare access to women in the surrounding communities.

Jeff Lindsey, President of Forsyth Medical Center said, “We’re changing the traditional approach of caring for women by reorienting our entire medical center to recognize the significant physical and social differences that women have compared to men.  We want to remove all the barriers we can so that women receive the timely, appropriate care that they need and deserve.”

The center is second facility Dr. Angelou is involved with, the first being the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity at Wake Forest University, which is dedicated to the goal of achieving health equity.  Learn More about the Center for Health Equality with the informative video and resources page @ Wake Forest School of Medicine: Passion on the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity.

Dr. Maya Angelou, we salute you and thank you for giving back!

See Related Articles in the “OUR HEALTH” series.  And don’t miss any of the news and information that’s important to you and your family.  Subscribe to Black Girl Green World!