Health Archives | Page 3 of 6 | Warwick Friendly Society

Make March Purple for Epilepsy

March is Epilepsy Awareness month, and we reached out to a family that has been impacted by this medical condition.

Kayla Haidley has shared the journey her family is going through with Hamish, to help raise awareness around Epilepsy and how it can affect people of all ages.

Below is the story so far for little Hamish.

Every 33 minutes someone’s life is turned upside down by Epilepsy and they couldn’t have said it any better. Because that is exactly what happened to our darling little boy Hamish 14 months ago at the age of 2 years old. Consequently, our little family’s lives were also toppled upside down alongside him.

In early January 2021, after a fun day out in Toowoomba with his big sister Bella, I was woken by Hamish making a loud single cry. My intuition told me to get up, out of bed and check on him. That’s when I found him having a Tonic-Clonic Seizure (full fitting like you would see in the movies).

I quickly picked him up and placed him on the floor of his room and called 000 for an Ambulance. Hamish’s seizure lasted 10 minutes. The Paramedics arrived quickly and transported him to the Warwick Hospital where our week-long hospital stay began. After a few days Hamish got transferred to Toowoomba Base Paediatric Unit as he began to develop and show different seizure types. He was experiencing Atonic or Drop Seizures causing his whole body to uncontrollably go limp and Myoclonic Seizures where his body and limbs unknowingly twitch. The nature of these seizures meant Hamish was constantly injuring himself badly. The seizures were increasing daily requiring an MRI be conducted (which due to his age he had to be put under General Anaesthetic). Thankfully this test came back clear, however it was a Video EEG that showed seizure activity in Hamish’s brain and with that he was then given the diagnosis of Epilepsy. The Paediatric Doctors started him on medication straight away, little did we know then that this would just be the beginning of Hamish’s Epilepsy Journey.

It wasn’t until we got home from hospital that we realised just the true extent this medical condition can cause a person, not to mention a little 2-year-old. A spiral of ups and downs followed as Hamish was having up to 15 Atonic (drop) and numerous Myoclonic (twitching) Seizures every day. Sometimes these numbers would increase to almost “too many to count” depending on various seizure triggers. With this Hamish’s life was put essentially on hold, we saw the decline of our energetic adventurous little boy. He would easily become tired and lethargic (resulting in him having many naps during the day) struggle with his motor skills, appetite and even speech due to the seizures. The trauma his little body would suffer (mainly facial and head injuries from his Atonic seizures), such as putting teeth through his lips, bitting his tongue, chipping serval teeth, blood noses, displaced ribs, shoulders and countless cuts/bruises. This has resulted in several visits to the Warwick Hospital ED, a notable time was from a seizure in the bath and hitting is forehead right in the same spot he had hit continuously for days prior causing a big haematoma the size of tennis ball. The more severe occasions have required an ambulance as when Hamish gets sick his seizure threshold drops- causing his seizures to drastically increase, then back in early October Hamish had a big Atonic seizure resulting in him splitting his head open on a table. We felt helpless trying the best we could to learn as fast as we could to understand what he needed.

I quickly began researching all there was to know about Epilepsy through great organisations like Epilepsy Foundation Australia and Epilepsy Queensland. I also found information about how to care for Hamish and quickly identified triggers to his seizures within our home and daily life. Learning things like illnesses can cause his seizures to increase, the dangers of baths and swimming due to seizures also that his medication is based on a weight ratio and every time Hamish grows his medication needs increasing or else the seizures get worse again. Importantly a better understanding what Sudden Unexpected Death caused by Epilepsy (SUDEP) is. I also joined various Epilepsy Facebook groups that gave me a great platform to connect with other parents who have children with epilepsy.

As the months passed Hamish started developing regular Absence seizures on top of all his other seizures throughout the day. Hamish needed another Video EEG and from that was put on a second medication with the aim that the two Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AED) would work in gaining some control. There has been some light and the end of the very long tunnel though as his daily seizure count has dramatically dropped to 1—2 a day. Hamish’s Epilepsy is what they consider still “not controlled”, even after 14months of initially being diagnosed. Due to not gaining any seizure control despite being on two AED’s, in February 2022, Hamish finally got an appointment at the Neurology Clinic at the Queensland Children Hospital. During the appointment Hamish’s Neurologist and her team investigated if Hamish has a rare childhood epilepsy syndrome due to the nature of his seizures. To fully investigate this diagnosis Hamish was admitted to the QCH Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. During this admission he was put on a 24hour Video EEG for 5 days (in the hopes to capture any seizure activity) additionally he had a Lumbar Puncture with DNA and Genetic Blood Test. A follow up appointment is scheduled in a couple months to get the full report from the tests that were done. In the meantime, Hamish is having adjustments made to his medications.

It has now been 14 months and numerous tests; we still don’t have all the answers and we still don’t have a solid known cause or reason for why Hamish has Epilepsy. This highlights what it truly can be like living with Epilepsy. A lot of people don’t ever get a known cause as to why they have Epilepsy. There is no cure for Epilepsy and some seizure types aren’t controlled through medication (just like our Hamish). It’s very important to identify that Epilepsy is very vast and different person to person diagnosed. Many children and adults respond very well to medications and that is a truly wonderful achievement.

However, it’s also important to know that for a lot of children and adults, it really isn’t that simple. If you met our darling boy Hamish today, he would easily come across to be like an everyday busy, energetic, happy-go-lucky 3year old. While he really is all those things, he also lives with Epilepsy and battles seizures every single day! He is definitely a little warrior – a Epilepsy Warrior as they are called in the Epilepsy community. Through all this Hamish has shown strength I didn’t know was possible for such a little person. Not to mention his resilience to adapt and continue to not just survive but thrive. Now that Hamish’s seizures are happening less throughout the day, he is gaining his ‘old self’ again and his daily energy is increasing slowly, he is finally able to catch up on his missed milestones.

I do often say that our situation is a blessed one in a way. As Hamish and our little family live in a community where we have amazing medical care and support. All our extended family and friends are only minutes away meaning Hamish (and our little family) receives so much love and support. Which I feel is just as important as gaining seizure control for little Hamish’s future and quality of life. Just last year in October I joined up to do the Walk for Epilepsy (another great fundraiser and awareness the whole of Australia participates in for Epilepsy) and along with Hamish’s big sister Bella, Aunties Danika and Madelaine and a very dear friend of mine, Sam.

These amazing women joined me in the “HHH Crew” and collectively raised over $3,700 and walked over 469km all for Epilepsy Queensland who use the funds for research and to support the epilepsy community. We have such an amazing village around us that have shown Hamish and our little family so much love and support through this topsy-turvy time, we will be forever grateful to those amazing souls.

It’s so important that Epilepsy awareness is raised and journeys like Hamish’s are shared, to show exactly what it’s like having to live with a diagnosis like Epilepsy. It’s staggering just when you look at the statistics – how many people (of all ages and cultures) live with and are affected by this medical condition. It’s also important that Epilepsy Foundations receive donations and funding so that they have the continuous ability to work towards better research and support systems for those who are living with Epilepsy, for their futures and future generations of epilepsy warriors. So please even if it’s just sharing Hamish’s story, starting a conversation, donating/giving as little or much as you can, it all matters! Because its true what they say, every little bit counts!

If you are ever unfortunate enough to witness one of Hamish’s seizures or as we call them “not a very good day” you will then see just how hard he has fought and fights every single day. And coming from a mother’s eyes watching one of my babies now growing and living his life with Epilepsy, it is a mixture of tears and heartbreak; but also pride and amazement of just the resilience, strength, fight and courage Hamish has. And for that Hamish will always be our Little Hero.

-We don’t know how strong we are, until being strong is the only choice we have-

-Always be kind, you never know the silent battles others are fighting-

Ear Health

In Australia about 3.6 million people live with some level of hearing loss, with more than 1.3 million cases involving hearing loss that could have been prevented. Hearing loss impacts a person’s ability to access education, find work opportunities and communicate clearly and effectively in their everyday lives, which can lead to social isolation. Once hearing has been lost, it often cannot be recovered.

The incidence of hearing loss increases with increasing age, with hearing loss affecting more than 50% of people aged 60-70 years of age and increasing for each decade after. Genetics, untreated ear conditions and exposure to loud noises also increase the risk of hearing loss. So, what can we do to make sure we keep our hearing and ear healthy?

Use hearing protection when exposed to loud noises. For example, when using machinery (even mowers), in some workplaces and at music festivals or concerts.
Avoid the use of cotton tips or any other object inside the ear canal. This can damage the eardrum and the lining of the ear canal and cause ear wax to become impacted.
Dry your ears after bathing or swimming and avoid swimming in dirty water.

If you are communicating with someone who has hearing loss

Speak slowly and clearly and avoid shouting
If you are wearing a facemask, you may remove it so the person can see your mouth or use a transparent mask
Minimize any background noise
Use visual information, or write information down
Ask for the person to repeat the information back so you know that the message was communicated correctly

Seek attention promptly for any concerns about your hearing or ear health. Services available for you to seek help include your pharmacist, doctor, or audiologist.

RedFeb

This REDFEB, we invite you to wear Red for someone close to your heart – a family member, wife, husband, or in memory of someone you loved who sadly passed away due to heart disease.

Heart disease kills more than two times as many Australian women than breast cancer!

With that in mind, about 40% of heart attacks in women are fatal, and many occur without prior warning.

Did you know that women can experience different symptoms of a heart attack to men?

Apart from chest pain/discomfort, shortness of breath and nausea, women may also experience the following:

– Dizziness

– Vomiting

– Fatigue

– Light-headedness

– Sweating

– Burning sensation in the chest similar to heartburn

Whilst heart disease can occur at any age, around menopause the risk increases significantly. Once there is a drop in oestrogen levels as well as the other changes occurring, there is a significant increase in the risk of heart disease.

How can women reduce their risk? · Have an active lifestyle throughout life, at least 30 minutes, 3–5 times a week · Follow a low-fat diet · Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables

· Maintain a healthy body weight

The risk of developing diabetes is increased greatly by physical inactivity and obesity. In 2001 about 20% of Australian women were classified as obese. Symptoms are generally not present, as diabetes is usually present for many years before symptoms develop.

Diabetes increases the risk of heart attack by 3-7 times in women, compared with 2-3 times in men.

People who live with Diabetes also have more widespread atherosclerosis than others and are often less suitable for stenting or surgery. Regular exercise and weight control can usually prevent diabetes.

Be assured that the Friendlies are doing their part in this initiative. So, come on down to our Pharmacies and get your blood pressure checked by one of our amazing staff, and make sure you are wearing RED.

Skin Cancer

By the age of 70, two out of three Australians would have been diagnosed with skin cancer, with 95% of those cancers being caused by UV radiation. This radiation is invisible to the eyes and can penetrate the layers of the skin, causing damage to the DNA. If our bodies are unable to repair this damage, our cells begin to divide and grow uncontrollably, leading to the formation of a tumour.

Whilst we spend $1 Billion each year treating skin cancers, it is definitely one of the easier cancers to prevent.

What better way to prevent than using good sun protection. So, Slip on sun-protective clothing, Slop on SPF 30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen, Slap on a broad-brimmed hat, Seek shade and Slide on sunglasses.

How to check your skin:

Make sure you check your entire body as skin cancers can sometimes occur in parts of the body not exposed to the sun, for example soles of the feet, between fingers and toes and under nails.
Undress completely and make sure you have good light.
Use a mirror to check hard to see spots, like your back and scalp, or get a family member, partner or friend to check it for you.

Some changes to look out for when checking your skin for signs of any cancer:

New moles.
Moles that increases in size.
A spot that changes colour from brown to black or is varied.
A spot that becomes raised or develops a lump within it.
The surface of a mole becoming rough, scaly or ulcerated.
Spots that look different from the others.

To help you along your way, make sure to visit your local GP who will be able to check your skin for any worrying signs. There are also doctors in town that specialise in skin checks, so be sure to get yourself checked out.

Your local Friendlies pharmacy is also your one-stop-shop for the appropriate sun protection gear. We have sunglasses, broad-brimmed hats, and a great range of broad-spectrum sunscreen.

Dec, 2021

Christmas Giving Programme 2021

Warwick Friendly Society is pleased to announce this year’s Christmas Giving Programme, which encourages members to choose how the Society’s yearly Christmas Donation is distributed.

The Warwick Friendly Society was founded in 1908 to support members of the Warwick district.

It is fitting therefore that the charities our staff have nominated for the Society Christmas Giving Programme have a focus on the community as a whole in these trying times.

The Warwick Community Van, Riding for the Disabled Australia, and Southern Downs Ark are the three charities that Warwick Friendly Society will highlight during the shopping period up to Christmas.

Riding for the Disabled Australia {RDAA} is a voluntary, non-profit organization which provides opportunities for people with a disability to enjoy safe, healthy, therapeutic, horse-related activities in Australia.

RDA Warwick conducts riding for primary school aged children with special needs at the Warwick Showground over the middle two terms of the school year. Qualified coaches and adult volunteers are aided each week by students from Scots and Assumption Colleges. New volunteers are warmly welcomed and don’t necessarily have to be horse orientated. A desire to help children is all that is needed.

Each year coaches and volunteers see very tangible results of the RDA riding programme. Each week volunteers see children’s confidence and self-esteem build as skills are achieved and improved upon. But best of all, the children have fun.

It’s easy to see that the volunteers of the Warwick Community Van love what they do. When you start talking to them you find out why.

The Warwick Community Van is a community kitchen designed as a grassroots charity to serve the needs of our local community. Run entirely on volunteers from the Warwick Seventh-day Adventist church and local community, the team provides amazing services with no questions asked.

The community van team follows the practices of the foundation statement; “Feeding people with love” and this is exactly what happens each week during our van’s service.

The Warwick Community Van offers all of the following, free to their clients:

-homemade meals

-hygiene items such as shampoo and ladies’ products

-laundry powder in individual sizes

-clothing and shoes

-blankets and sleeping bags

-occasional donations of food items and household essentials

100 percent of what is donated to the Community Van is used to provide essential items and meet the needs of Warwick locals.

We welcome any questions about our service.

You can find us on our Facebook page or call Catherine on 0409 894 908.

Southern Downs Animal Rescue & Kare (ARK) is an animal welfare charity based in Warwick. Established in 2014, we are dedicated to saving and improving the lives of unwanted and abandoned domestic animals. We’ve rehomed everything from dogs and cats to sheep, pigs, horses, poultry, birds and guinea pigs.

Animals come into our care from many sources. Some are the product of indiscriminate breeding. Others we rescue from death-row at council pounds. Many are simply surrendered to us by people who, for whatever reason, are no longer able to look after them.

Regardless of where an animal comes from, we don’t discriminate or pass judgment. We take in sick, dying, young, old, broken, traumatised and unloved animals and do our best to rehabilitate them and find them a good home.

We are a no-kill rescue organisation. Once a dog or cat is in our care, it stays with us until it is rehomed or dies of natural causes. We have several special dogs and cats that are living out their days in permanent ARK care.

ARK has no paid staff and no central shelter. We depend entirely on the generosity of approved foster carers to look after our animals in their homes.

Our income is derived primarily from animal adoption fees, donations and fundraising. We are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission and have ATO endorsement as a deductible gift recipient. All donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible.

How it will work

With each transaction in-store (no minimum spends and can be from any department), members will receive a token (must be a current member)
Choose which charity you would like to support from the on-counter display
Pop your token in the appropriate box

Donation

$3000 will be distributed between the three charities according to the proportion of tokens in the boxes. These funds will be distributed during January 2021.

Conditions

*For every transaction made in-store, each member will receive one promotional token (limit of 1 token per transaction). Place the token in the entry box on the counter, selecting the individual charity that you wish to support. Warwick Friendly Society will make a charitable donation to each of the three charities at the end of the promotion, based on the proportion of tokens contributed to each charity. The total donation will be AUD$3,000. Christmas Giving Programme Promotion runs from 6/12/21–20/12/21.

How it will work:

With each transaction in-store (no minimum spends and can be from any in-store department), members will receive a token (must be a current member)
Choose which charity you would like to support from the on-counter display
Pop your token in the appropriate box.

Donation:

$3000 will be distributed between the three charities according to the proportion of tokens in the boxes. These funds will be distributed during January 2022.

Conditions:

Christmas Giving Programme Promotion runs from 6/12/21–20/12/21.

Community Focus – Condamine Headwaters Landcare group

Condamine Headwaters Landcare Group

*Warwick’s Landcare Group for over 24 years.

Landcare has had a strong history in Warwick, with Condamine Headwaters Landcare being formed out of the previous landcare groups of Glengallan and Rosenthal areas, and it has operated continuously in our town for all that time.

Landcare is not a government organisation and does not receive government funding to operate. It is entirely a local community group, held together by a volunteer committee, members and caring locals. The group employs a coordinator (part time) to run relevant landcare projects (which are made possible by gaining competitive grant funding) and to serve the landcare interests of the community, work with council, work with Southern Queensland Landscapes and to provide a landcare venue for members.

Over the last five years, CHLG has delivered over $500,000 worth of projects to the local community in diverse areas such as drought events, grazing planning, Natural Sequence Farming, regenerative agriculture, cultural burning, vegetation management and championing local food producers.

The group runs an office (now located at block E at the TAFE on Dragon St) so we are available by appointment. We are looking at setting up a native plant nursery to supply the local community with native plants that suit our area, support local biodiversity and are hardy in dry times. We are grateful to local landcare members, volunteers and supporters who make these initiatives possible.

As well as running local and relevant land management projects, our Landcare group also hosts two community groups who do bushcare. One of these, Killarney Bushcare Group, has been meeting monthly for many years and regularly hosts interesting wildlife events, outings and tree plantings. A more recent group, Friends of Everest Rd Flora Reserve meets monthly to help conserve the remaining patch of remnant of Rosenthal Scrub, a now rare bush type that once grew over much of the Rosenthal Heights area.

The Condamine Headwaters Landcare Group also maintains close links with the Allora Landcare Group, who have also been running for many years and meet monthly, with regular outings and events.

If you are interested in any of these groups, please get in touch (officechlg@gmail.com) and we will pass on the relevant contact details. CHLG membership costs $20, is open to all and is available on the same email address.

Caring for the bush or being a good land manager on your farm or patch is healthy in so many ways, and it contributes so much to your own well-being, your family’s and your community’s. Here’s a quote from the web; it applies to us individually, but also to us collectively as a community or society.

Hay Fever

Hay fever is the common name for seasonal allergic rhinitis. Hay fever describes a reaction that occurs when your nose or eyes come in contact with allergens to which you are sensitive, such as pollens, dust mites, moulds or animal dander. For some people, exposure to these allergens can trigger an immune response (your body’s natural defence system), which leads to swelling and inflammation in the inner lining of the nose (rhinitis). Despite its name, it’s not caused by hay and doesn’t cause a fever.

What are the symptoms of hay fever?

Common symptoms of hay fever include:

an itchy, runny or blocked nose
itchy or watery eyes
frequent sneezing
needing to breathe from the mouth
always needing to clear your throat
always feeling like you have a head cold
snoring during sleep

What causes hay fever?

Common allergens that may trigger hay fever symptoms include:

grass, weeds and tree pollens
dust mites and dust
animal fur or skin flakes
moulds and fungal spores
air pollutants
animals

How is hay fever treated?

In the pharmacy, we are able to help treat hay fever, depending on what the allergen is and how severe the symptoms are.

Nasal irrigation

For some people, saltwater nasal sprays or douches (a stream of water sprayed into the nose) will provide substantial relief from hay fever. These non-medicated approaches are safe and can often help relieve symptoms. Brands include FLO and NeilMed.

Intranasal corticosteroids

These effectively reduce inflammation in the lining of the nose caused by hay fever or other conditions. Like asthma preventer medications, corticosteroid nasal sprays need to be used regularly and carefully to be effective. Different brands are available such as Flixonase, Nasonex, Rhinocort, Beconase.

Antihistamines

These manage symptoms of hay fever by blocking the action of histamine, which the body releases in response to exposure to an allergen. In this way, antihistamines reduce the symptoms of the allergic reaction. They are available as tablets, syrups, nasal sprays and eye drops to offer localised relief where you are experiencing hay fever symptoms. For example, use eye drops for itchy or watery eyes. Brand names include Telfast, Claratyne, Azep, Aerius, Zyrtec, Zaditen, Livostin.

Decongestant sprays

These unblock and dry the nose, but they should not be used for more than a few days. This is because they can cause problems such as ‘rebound congestion’, when your symptoms become worse after you stop using the decongestant. Examples of these types of nasal sprays include Dimetapp, Drixine, Spray-tish, Sinex and Sudafed.

Decongestant tablets

These also unblock and dry the nose but they can have stimulant side effects such as tremors, difficulty sleeping, anxiety or increased blood pressure. These tablets may not be suitable for everyone, especially those who have high blood pressure. The medication available over the counter is Phenylephrine.

Minimise exposure to allergens

If the allergens that trigger your customer’s hay fever are known, reducing their exposure to them may reduce symptoms.

If pollens are causing hay fever, these tips may help:

Stay indoors until after midday, especially when the pollen count is high, it’s windy or after thunderstorms.
Wear sunglasses, carry tissues, shower when you arrive home, and rinse your eyes with water.
If the trigger is grass, avoid mowing, playing or walking in grassy areas, and don’t go camping.
Keep windows closed at home and in the car, and use recirculating air conditioning in the car.
Avoid outdoor picnics during pollen season.
If gardening at home, research which plants are less likely to trigger hay fever. Remove any weeds or vegetation outside your bedroom window that might trigger symptoms.

There can be complications of hay fever which may include disturbed sleep, tiredness during the day, headaches and poor concentration. Hay fever may also trigger frequent ear infections, such as otitis media in children, and sinus infections (sinusitis) in adults.

Untreated hay fever may also increase the risk of developing asthma, or make asthma harder to control, so it’s especially important to treat nasal symptoms if the customer is also asthmatic. This is because asthma and hay fever are both associated with airway inflammation. About 4 in every 5 people with asthma also have hay fever.

World Immunisation Week 2021

Vaccines have brought us closer, and will bring us closer again.

Using the theme ‘Vaccines bring us closer’, World Immunisation Week 2021 will urge greater engagement around immunisation globally to promote the importance of vaccination in bringing people together, and improving the health and well-being of everyone, everywhere throughout life.

For over 200 years, vaccines have protected us against diseases that threaten lives and prohibit our development. With their help, we can progress without the burden of diseases like smallpox and polio, which cost humanity hundreds of millions of lives

Whilst vaccines aren’t a silver bullet, they will help us progress on a path to a world where we can be together again.

Vaccines themselves continue to advance, bringing us closer to a world free from the likes of TB and cervical cancer, and ending suffering from childhood diseases like measles.

Investment and new research is enabling groundbreaking approaches to vaccine development, which are changing the science of immunization forever, bringing us closer still to a healthier future.

While the world focuses on critically important new vaccines to protect against COVID-19, there remains a need to ensure routine vaccinations are not missed. Many children have not been vaccinated during the global pandemic, leaving them at risk of serious diseases like measles and polio. Rapidly circulating misinformation around the topic of vaccination adds to this threat.

For a schedule of when children should be vaccinated – See the National Immunisation Program Schedule.

In this context, this year’s campaign will aim to build solidarity and trust in vaccination as a public good that saves lives and protects health.

To find out what vaccinations you have had in the past – See the Australian Immunisation Register.

A critical part of the solution to the pandemic, but not alone

Vaccines are a critical new tool in the battle against COVID-19. Working as quickly as they can, scientists from across the world are collaborating and innovating to bring us tests, treatments and vaccines that will collectively save lives and end this pandemic.

Safe and effective vaccines will be a game changer: but for the foreseeable future we must continue wearing masks, physically distancing and avoiding crowds.

Together, we can end the COVID-19 pandemic and achieve a healthier world for all.

Covid Update- 30th March 2021

From 5pm, Monday 29^th March our staff will wear masks when working in our stores.

Mask wearing will be a condition of entry to our stores in line with Queensland Health directions.

In all areas of Queensland, you must carry a face mask with you at all times when you leave home, unless you have a lawful reason not to. You must wear a mask indoors when not at home.

For more information on mask wearing see: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/protect-yourself-others/face-masks

Community Focus- Zonta

“Zonta International was founded in Buffalo, New York, USA on 8 November 1919 with 9 Charter Clubs. A century later, Zonta has grown to an international service organization with 28,000 members in 62 countries around the globe. Zonta International is non-partisan and non-sectarian with membership open to men and women with experience in business or the professions. Its Mission is the Empowerment of Women Through Service and Advocacy. Zonta International programs are funded by the Zonta Foundation for Women which is supported by donations from Zonta members, their communities, corporations and bequests.

Through Zonta’s education programs, women and girls pursuing education and careers in traditionally male-dominated fields are supported. The Amelia Earhart Fellowship assists women studying aerospace engineering and space sciences, enabling them to conduct groundbreaking research. Recipients of the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarships, Women in Technology Scholarships and Young Women in Public Affairs Awards are the next generation of leaders in the private and public sectors.

Zonta’s international service projects are conducted in partnership with UN agencies, and are responding to the health needs of adolescent girls and preventing violence in schools in Peru, ensuring that all women and girls in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste live life free from violence, creating opportunities for vulnerable and excluded children in Madagascar to receive education, and protecting the rights of millions of vulnerable girls and preventing child marriage in 12 countries in Africa and Asia.

The Zonta Club of Warwick, Inc also provides local young women with awards and scholarships to encourage their studies toward career and community service goals. This year, the Club are raising monies to fund the purchase and assembly of Clean Birthing Kits which are distributed to trained midwives and medical services in developing countries.

In conjunction with International Women’s Day, Zonta International and its members celebrate Rose Day, a special day when Zontians are encouraged to recognize those individuals in their lives who have encouraged them or are exemplary leaders in gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

If you would like to know more about joining a Zonta Club, please contact zontad22lieutenantgovernor@gmail.com.”