Here’s Why Global Policies Must Prioritize Women’s Health: A Call for Equity and Change
A vital component of global prosperity and well-being is the health of women. Nonetheless, it is frequently ignored by international governments, which results in differences in healthcare resources, outcomes, and access. In addition to being an issue of equity, addressing women’s health is essential to creating healthy economies and communities. Here are some reasons why women’s health has to be given more consideration in international policies:
1. Disparities in Reproduction and Biology
Women’s reproductive biology and hormonal fluctuations present particular health difficulties. These variables raise the risk of diseases like anemia, osteoporosis, and reproductive malignancies from pregnancy problems until menopause. Many women continue to be underserved and lack access to necessary care and treatment alternatives in the absence of targeted health measures.
2. Health of Mothers and Children
Child health and maternal health are tightly related. About 295,000 women died during childbirth in 2017, primarily from avoidable causes, according to the WHO. Prioritizing the health of women not only saves lives but also improves the wellbeing of families and children. Maternal mortality can be considerably decreased with better access to prenatal, postnatal, and emergency obstetric care.
3. Gender-Based Violence Prevalence
Worldwide, one in three women are victims of physical or sexual abuse, which can have a serious negative impact on their emotional and physical well-being. Addressing gender-based violence and its aftereffects, such as trauma, depression, and issues related to reproductive health, must be a top priority for global health programs. Rebuilding survivors’ lives requires providing them with complete healthcare and support services.
4. Ignored Mental Health Requirements
Mental health conditions including anxiety and depression are twice as common in women. They frequently refrain from getting assistance due to cultural shame and a lack of mental health resources. Women’s access to mental health support can be eliminated by advancing gender-sensitive services and giving mental health a higher priority in international legislation.
5. The Effects of Socioeconomic Disparities
Because they have less access to healthcare, education, and work possibilities, women in lower socioeconomic strata are more susceptible to health concerns. Their problems are frequently made worse by poverty and gender discrimination, which increases their vulnerability to communicable diseases, malnutrition, and a lack of healthcare services. One of the main goals of global health strategies should be to address socioeconomic inequities.
6. Disparities by Gender in Access to Healthcare
Due to gender-based discrimination, socioeconomic limitations, and cultural restrictions, women and girls frequently have less access to healthcare. Higher rates of untreated illnesses and avoidable fatalities are the outcome of this discrepancy. The creation of egalitarian healthcare systems that offer all women, irrespective of their socioeconomic status, reasonably priced and high-quality treatments must be the main goal of policy.
7. Rights to Reproduction and Family Planning
Across the world, millions of women still lack access to reproductive health services like safe abortion, family planning, and contraception. Women’s autonomy over their bodies is impacted when reproductive rights are violated, which can result in unsafe abortions, unwanted pregnancies, and poor maternal health. Comprehensive reproductive healthcare must be given top priority in international policies in order to enable women to make knowledgeable decisions about their bodies.
Conclusion: Beyond attaining gender parity, more women in C-suite roles are necessary to realize firms’ full potential. Women executives contribute to the development of inclusive and creative organizations, promote financial success, and offer a variety of perspectives. Businesses that support gender diversity in their leadership groups set themselves up for increased development, adaptation, and resilience in a world that is changing quickly. In addition to being the moral thing to do, elevating women to C-suite positions is also a wise business move. It’s time for businesses to step up their efforts to increase the number of women in the C-suite since the future of leadership is diverse.
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