WHEREAS, the mission of the San Francisco Department of Public Health is to protect and promote the health of all San Franciscans; and,

WHEREAS, women present particular physiological concerns, experience disease and treatment differently from men and exhibit gender based health disparities; and,

WHEREAS, the health of women and girls is jeopardized by preventable illness, poverty, lack of access to health insurance coverage, violence, social inequity, environmental and occupational hazards, chronic illness, inadequate access to health care, insufficient research data and unhealthy lifestyles; and,

WHEREAS, the health of our families and communities is inextricably entwined with the health of women given their multiple social roles as caregivers, breadwinners, mothers, partners and health care decision makers; and,

WHEREAS, the San Francisco Department of Public Health in its current Strategic Plan emphasizes prevention of disease and injury, promotion of community partnerships, facilitation of access to care, cost efficiency and focus on target populations; and,

WHEREAS, the City and County of San Francisco enacted in 1998 local health principles in an ordinance affirming for women the right to access adequate health care and facilities, and the elimination of discrimination against women and girls in the field of health care in accordance with the principles underlying the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); and,

WHEREAS, the Office of Women’s Health of the San Francisco Department of Public Health completed the Women’s Health Plan on May 12, 2003 and presented it to the Health Commission on May 20, 2003; and,

WHEREAS, the Women’s Health Plan provides a four-year strategic guide for the improvement of health and the maintenance of wellness for women and girls in San Francisco; and,

WHEREAS, the Women’s Health Plan emphasizes provision of gender specific, culturally competent, accessible, science based, coordinated health care services to women and girls in a manner that encourages their partnership; and,

WHEREAS, the Women’s Health Plan also emphasizes community partnership, consumer and provider education, intra Department of Public Health collaboration, and prevention and early screening; and,

WHEREAS, the Women’s Health Plan outlines six core recommendations, presents multiple strategies for the achievement of these recommendations and will be evaluated in 2007; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, the Health Commission of the City and County of San Francisco accepts the Women’s Health Plan as presented to them on May 20, 2003 and commends the Office of Women’s Health for its issuance; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Health Commission directs the Department of Public Health to implement the Women’s Health Plan as presented to them on May 20, 2003.

I hereby certify that the San Francisco Health Commission at its meeting of June 3, 2003 adopted the foregoing resolution.

Jim Soos, Acting Executive Secretary to the Health Commission