Last year, I reached out to North Dakota Department of Health to see if the governor could/would declare November as Stomach Cancer Awareness month. I was informed that we were too close to the deadline, but that it would be brought up this year, again, with the new governor. I just received a disappointing email back...
"I wanted to reach out to you and let you know that I did not forget your request/suggestion for a stomach cancer awareness month proclamation. Unfortunately our new governor has set strict rules for proclamations for each section of the each state agency and the leadership team from the Department of Health determined that based on priorities and indicator measurements that we are responsible for, they submitted a proclamation for Suicide Awareness. I just wanted to be sure to follow up with you as I know this is something that was on your heart last year. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Janna Pastir
Program Director, Comprehensive Cancer Control
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC)
North Dakota Department of Health "
It makes me VERY happy that they are lifting up the awareness of suicide as that is a VERY VERY important topic!!! I'm just disappointed that it seems, as always, stomach cancer awareness, knowledge, and funding gets put on the back burner. This is very near and dear to my heart, obviously. I replied back to see if there is anything we can do, going forward. I guess we will see.
) TO ANNOUNCE THAT.....
