Open Door Health Center is a primary healthcare center dedicated
to serving the uninsured of South Dade at no cost to them. The Women’s Health Program
serves women from varied ethnic backgrounds including Mexicans, African Americans, Haitians,
Cubans and non-Hispanic whites. Since Hispanic/Latino and African American women are
disproportionately affected by breast cancer, which is often detected at a younger age and
often much later stage than non-Hispanic whites, our program goal is to decrease this health
disparity by educating women (and men) on breast cancer and by improving access to breast cancer
screenings. Activities focus on patient and community education to increase breast cancer awareness;
including the importance of regular monthly breast self-exams, annual clinical breast exams
and mammograms as well as living a healthy lifestyle. The program also improves access to
comprehensive health care and medications. Our main program activities include:
Breast Cancer Awareness Classes
This interactive class provides patients and family members with an overview of breast cancer including:
risk factors we can/cannot control, signs/symptoms, the importance of monthly breast self-exams, annual
clinical breast exams & mammograms, and what we can do to prevent breast cancer.
Community Outreach
Our Outreach Workers give Breast Cancer Awareness presentations to members of local civic and church
groups in English, Spanish and Creole. Attendees are taught proper breast self-exam technique and are
encouraged to have their annual clinical breast exam and mammogram.
Multi-Cultural Cooking Classes
Every other month patients, their family members and local residents get together for a fun-filled evening
of cooking and sampling healthy and tasty foods as part of a well-balanced diet to promote optimal health.
Grocery Store Tours
Our nutritionist leads quarterly field trips to the grocery store to educate patients and their family
members on how to select foods to support a healthy lifestyle for the whole family, including how to use
food labels and more.
Senior Fitness Classes
Three times per week patients and local community members meet for these fun and highly motivating exercise
sessions that focus on building strength, endurance, balance and flexibility all to the energetic rhythms of
the islands!
The Women’s Health Program is funded by the Susan G. Komen For The Cure, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Affiliate