Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week

Gov. John E. Baldacci has declared March 13-17 Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week and urged Maine residents to join in the fight against MS.

Every hour of every day, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, a chronic, often disabling disease of the central nervous system for which there is no cure. Approximately one of 400 people in Maine live with the unpredictable symptoms of MS that can come and go at a moment’s notice or can be permanent.

“It is only by putting a face on the disease that we will begin to understand what it means to live with MS,” said representatives of the Maine Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is reaching out to the MS community in every state to build “The Face of MS,” an online, interactive and collaborative art project representing the face of MS. As more people contribute their stories through video and written testimonials, the face will continue to grow into a kaleidoscopic collaborative work of art.

Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week takes place March 13-17. The Maine chapter is taking part in a nationwide campaign to raise awareness for MS that will encourage people to come face to face with a disease that impacts each person differently and to inspire people across the country to join in the fight to end MS.

Activities include:

. March 13: The unveiling of the Face of MS and the interactive Web site www.faceofms.org. The Maine chapter staff invites clients, volunteers and supporters to drop by the office 1-5 p.m. at 170 U.S. Route 1, Suite 200, in Falmouth to view the Web site and DVD.

. March 14: “Day of Hope.” The Hampden Outreach Office will hold an open house 5-7 p.m. with a guest speaker, raffle and opportunity to register for the Manpower MS Walk scheduled for April 8. The open house will be held at 735 Main Road North, Hampden. People are encouraged to show “aWEARness” that day by wearing MS identifiers such as the MS Ribbon of Hope Lapel Pin, the Band of Hope, National MS Society event T-shirts or simply wearing red. Staff and volunteers from the Maine chapter will visit 15 schools to read “My Grampy Can’t Walk,” a children’s book about the relationship between a young girl and her grandfather who has MS. Each school will receive a copy of the book for its library and participate in a short educational in-service about MS.

. March 15: Maine chapter, second annual Independence Day, encouraging people living with MS to try out the latest adaptive equipment and become aware of products and services available to maintain quality of life and independence. The program is offered at the Technical Exploration Center in Bangor and Majors Mobility in Topsham. A public signing by Baldacci of the MS Awareness Week proclamation will be held in his office in Augusta at 2:30pm.

. March 16: A walk around Baxter Boulevard in Portland to prepare for the Manpower MS Walk on Saturday, April 8. Walkers already signed up for the Manpower MS Walk can drop off early pledges at the Maine chapter office. Others may register for the walk at www.msmaine.org.

. March 17: a professional education seminar, “Psychosocial Intervention in Multiple Sclerosis: Strategies for Mental Health Professionals,” in Freeport.

. March 20: The Maine chapter representing the National MS Society at Disability Awareness Day, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Hall of Flags at the State Capitol, Augusta.

Multiple sclerosis typically strikes adults between ages 20 and 50. The progress, severity and specific symptoms in any one person cannot be predicted. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The unpredictable physical and emotional effects can last a lifetime and have an impact on the entire family. Maine has one of the highest per capita rates in the country, 70 percent higher than the national average.

Studies show that early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can reduce future disease activity and improve quality of life for many people with multiple sclerosis. Talk to your health care professional and contact the National MS Society at www.nationalmssociety.org or (800) FIGHT-MS to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and research that may one day reveal a cure.

For information, call 942-8352.

Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

The Maine AIDS Alliance announced that the first Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is set for Friday, March 10. The alliance, in conjunction with AIDS service organizations and the state of Maine HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis Program, will host a number of statewide events during the course of the day.

The day aims to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS transmission on women and girls. Activities will include:

. An educational session about women and HIV/AIDS at the Women and Curriculum lunch, noon-1 p.m. at Memorial Union, University of Maine, Orono. The session is open to students, staff and faculty.

. Free HIV testing, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Eastern Maine AIDS Network, 370 Harlow St., Bangor.

. Open house and free HIV testing, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Down East AIDS Network, 5A Water St., Ellsworth. This event is co-sponsored by the Next Step Domestic Violence Shelter.

. Free HIV testing for Indian women and girls, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Wabanaki Mental Health Association, 33 State St., Bangor.

Women and girls in the area are encouraged to participate in one or more of the activities. Testing for HIV will help women and girls know their status and provide them with opportunities for appropriate health care. Being fully informed about HIV will help women and girls learn if they are at risk and how to protect themselves.

For more information, call the Maine AIDS Alliance at 621-2924 or e-mail maa@gwi.net.

Mental health screening

BANGOR – As part of its community outreach program, Phoenix Mental Health Services will offer a free screening for depression, bipolar disorder, alcohol abuse, eating disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The screening, offered to those age 18 and older, will be held 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 9, at PMHS, 444 Stillwater Ave., Suite 202.

The 15-minute screening is not intended to be a substitute for a complete evaluation, but may help participants learn whether their symptoms are consistent with one of these disorders.

The screening is confidential and will be conducted by a trained counselor. No appointment is necessary. For information, call 941-1113.

Change Bandits

BANGOR – The Change Bandits are on the loose again. They collect loose change from employees during the month of March to benefit The Children’s Miracle Network of Eastern Maine Healthcare. Businesses and organizations are invited to become one of the Change Bandits to help kick off the 2006 Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon to be broadcast on KISS 94.5 FM Thursday-Saturday, March 23-25.

Change Bandits will be invited to be on the air during the Radiothon to promote their company’s participation in the community service project. Change Bandits will qualify for special prize drawings. To learn how to become a Change Bandit, call 973-5055.

Security officer honor

BANGOR – St. Joseph Healthcare security officer Justin Stevenson was honored as Security Officer of the Year by Securitas Security Services.

Stevenson has been working at St. Joseph Healthcare for more than a year and has continuously offered exceptional service to both St. Joseph Healthcare and Securitas Security Services, the company that provides security officers to the organization.

“He is always striving to learn more and grow to become a better officer and person. That is why Justin was selected for this award. I am proud of Justin and his accomplishment and look forward to his bright future,” said Michael Tarbox, security services account manager for St. Joseph Healthcare and Securitas Security Services.

Colon cancer awareness

ORONO – The American Cancer Society and Maine Cancer Foundation have joined to provide colon cancer grants totaling more than $20,000 to 10 hospitals and health organizations around the state, including the University of Maine employee wellness program, HealthyU, in Orono.

The organizations plan to use the grants to create colon cancer awareness zones that will include physician, employee and community education programs, such as educational displays, employee and public newsletters, and close-circuit television programs.

“A Colon Cancer Awareness Zone means that an organization or community recognizes the seriousness of this disease and encourages all residents to become aware of the risks for colon cancer,” said Susan Rowan of the Maine Cancer Foundation.

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and is the rare case in which testing can actually prevent the disease. When caught early, it has a 90 percent survival rate, yet fewer than 39 percent of those cancers are discovered at the earliest, most treatable stage. Increasing colon cancer testing among adults 50 and older represents the single greatest opportunity to decrease colon cancer death rates in Maine and around the country.

In 2006, it is estimated that some 800 Maine people will be diagnosed with colon cancer and about 300 will die from the disease.

“Many people 50 and older do not know that they are at risk for colon cancer and that they need to be screened,” said Kip DeSerres, vice president of the American Cancer Society. “If we can increase awareness and acceptance of the importance of colon cancer testing to the level we’ve done with the Pap test and mammograms, we will have a tremendous opportunity to save many lives through prevention and early detection.”

For more information about colon cancer prevention, detection and screening, call the American Cancer Society at (800) ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

Career fair

BANGOR – Eastern Maine Medical Center will hold its second annual career fair 9 a.m.- 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at the Spectacular Event Center, Griffin Road, Bangor. Representatives from clinical and nonclinical areas of the medical center will be available. Some interviews will be conducted that day.