BENDIGO women have been encouraged to check on their health, as part of a nationwide initiative.
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The upcoming Women's Health Week has been designed to encourage wellbeing for women and girls.
It aims to help women look after their physical and mental health proactively, rather than fixing problems after they've happened.
Campaign Manager Brenda Jones said it was important for women to check back in with themselves, this year more than ever.
She said the week was about raising awareness, educating and empowering women to prioritise their own health.
Ms Jones said woman should check back in with their doctors and health professionals.
"The lockdown has seen a lot of the screening services cancelled, and a reluctance for lots of women to go tot the doctor and have their normal checkup," Ms Jones said.
"That's going to have ramifications down the track.
"We tend to get caught up with family, and friends and food and pets, and sometimes we don't look after ourselves as well as we should."
Faced with a pandemic, the 2020 Women's Health Week will look different to any previous incarnation.
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Ms Jones said Victorian women - under tight COVID-19 restrictions - could take part in online events, and engagement activities to take part in the week.
These include signing up to receive daily emails to engage with their health throughout the week.
A virtual challenge aims to get women to collectively walk around Australia, to encourage women to keep moving.
The week begins with a live streamed comedy gala on September 5.
Ultimately Ms Jones encouraged women to get anything that didn't feel right checked, even if it was by telehealth.
"Because of the lockdown lots of the screening services were postponed, cancelled. Women were reluctant, have been, reluctant to go to their doctor for their normal checkups," she said.
"We're sitting on those things that maybe don't just feel right, but we would have gone and checked by now.
"It's more important than ever now that we actually do it."
Women's Health Week will take place from September 7-11. More at: womenshealthweek.com.au/
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