| Submitted by Mariko Hewitt
For all women, whether you are young or old, married or single, good gynecological care is the key to staying healthy.
Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center in Grantsville offers two wonderful women's health programs: the West Virginia Family Planning Program, which provides free or low-cost Family Planning; and Well-Woman examinations through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program (BCCSP), a free service if you meet the income guidelines.
Family Planning services and Well-Woman examinations are available at Minnie Hamilton throughout the year during regular clinic hours.
In June, Physician Assistant Deborah Murphy will be offering confidential, free or low-cost Family Planning, as well as Well-Woman examinations by appointment or just walk-in on the following dates:
Thursday, June 5 - 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 12 - 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 19 - 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 26 - 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
In addition to Physician Assistant Deborah Murphy, Minnie Hamilton has one female doctor and two female Family Nurse Practitioners.
Charges, if any, for Family Planning services are based on the number of people in the family and monthly income.
If you have no income and cannot afford Family Planning services, or if your insurance does not cover contraception, services may be available to you at no cost. No parental consent is required.
To make an appointment at Minnie Hamilton, call 354-9244. For additional information, stop by Minnie Hamilton to pick up a brochure or call the West Virginia Family Planning Program at 1-800-642-8522.
Women are eligible for free Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program (BCCSP) services if they are uninsured, underinsured, or if they meet the income guidelines. In addition, women between the ages of 25 and 64 may be eligible for free pelvic exams, Pap tests, and clinical breast exams.
Annual gynecological exams provide all women, regardless of age, with an ideal opportunity to discuss concerns about sex and sexuality, birth control, pregnancy, infertility, inherited disorders, loss of urine, cancer signals, breast self-exam, and menopause. Don't let embarrassment become a health risk. | 
