DHSS Press Release |
Date: March 17, 2000 DHSS-DPH9-2000 |
| Gregg C. Sylvester, M.D., Secretary Cynthia Collier, Communication Director (302) 255-9037, Pager (302) 247-8523 |
Contact: Allison Taylor Levine, DPH Phone: (302) 744-4907 Pager: (302) 247-1560 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOLIC ACID COALITION AND HAPPY HARRY'S TEAM UP TO GIVE VITAMINS TO QUALIFYING WOMEN WHO MAY BECOME PREGNANT
DOVER - To help ensure healthy babies, the newly formed Folic Acid Coalition of Delaware and Happy Harry's Drug Stores have teamed up to offer free vitamins containing folic acid, or Vitamin B, to qualifying women during the time in which they might become pregnant.
If taken before conception and during the early weeks of pregnancy, folic acid can help prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. Such birth defects can cause serious health problems and may even cause a baby's death.
| WHO: | Alan Levin, CEO, Happy Harry's Ulder J. Tillman, M.D., Director, Division of Public Health Cathy Kanefsky, Executive Director, March of Dimes Folic Acid Man, the official mascot of the Delaware Folic Acid Coalition |
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| WHAT: | Press conference kicking off folic acid promotion |
| WHEN: | Tuesday, March 21, 2000, 1 p.m. |
| WHERE: | Happy Harry's Drugstore, Gateway South 210 Gateway South Boulevard Dover, Delaware |
Members of the Delaware Folic Acid Coalition are the March of Dimes; Delaware Health & Social Services' Division of Public Health and WIC program; Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children; Christiana Care Health System; Delaware Department of Education; Spina Bifida Association; Wilmington Healthy Start; Perinatal Association of Delaware; the University of Delaware's College of Health & Nursing Sciences and Department of Nutrition & Dietetics; and the Association of Women's Health, Obstetrics & Neonatal Nurses.
For more information about folic acid, call the March of Dimes at (302) 225-1025, or call the Delaware Division of Public Health via the Delaware Helpline at (800) 464-HELP and ask for the WIC Program.
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.
