Why Women’s Wellness Should Not Be Ignored

Notwithstanding the progress in gender equality, health equity, and women’s health since the Beijing conference of the World Health Organization (WHO) 25 years back, global statistics tell a disturbing story. It is shocking to note that more than 800 women die every day in pregnancy and childbirth and violence against women remains terribly pervasive affecting 1 in 3 women globally.    

Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019, women and girls are facing new and emerging health challenges . The inequalities and access to vital healthcare and support services have been exacerbated due to the pandemic. As a result, though women make up 70% of workers in the healthcare and social sectors, they still occupy fewer leadership roles compared to men and are paid less, even for the same work. Moreover, depression is twice as common among women as men.   

We seldom realize that healthy women are at the core of healthy societies. Development experience has shown that deliberate policies and programmatic strategies aimed at nurturing women’s health and wellbeing across the life cycle are vital for realizing the full potential of women and girls. Social conditions and cultural norms that limit women’s access to health services, education, and economic opportunities are at the root of women’s health disparities, and these need to be done away with.   

Common health issues of women

Women are faced with numerous health issues like breast cancer, ovarian cancer, heart diseases, anemia as well as depression, and anxiety to name a few. It is important to bring these issues to light so that more women are aware of their health risks and can protect themselves accordingly. All the women’s health issues mentioned above are serious conditions that could considerably affect the quality of their life. Both breast and ovarian cancer are treatable when detected in the early stages. This is why women need to get annual tests to keep track of any changes in their bodies.    

Research has shown that several maternal ailments and lifestyle behaviors also affect women, amplifying their negative impact on society. Poor maternal nutrition before and during pregnancy, as well as tobacco and alcohol use during pregnancy, contribute to poor intrauterine growth, resulting in low birth weight of children to metabolic disorders and risk of non-communicable chronic diseases later in life. These problems are compounded by HIV and malaria. For instance, malaria infection during pregnancy is a common cause of anemia and birth weight of children.   

Women put others first

Women always put others first. They have a tendency to put their families first. Often, this often comes at the cost of their health. They ignore signs and symptoms of conditions like heart disease and pass them off as just tiredness. If any woman experiences extreme fatigue, gasping, blurry vision, nausea, and other related symptoms, they could be at risk of heart disease. On the other hand, many women are affected by breast cancer. Under no situation should these symptoms be ignored and medical help should be sought.

When women put others first , it may affect the health and wellness of the entire family. Daughters, mothers, and wives are the backbone of any family. Usually, they are the ones who plan the meals, care for the children and elderly, and transform houses into homes. A woman who is mentally or physically unwell finds it very difficult to cope with the expectations that society has of her. If she is already suffering from stress and anxiety, this situation could make it worse and even lead to depression affecting all those around her as well.   

Ensuring women’s health

It is time that everyone becomes aware of the fact that addressing the root causes of ill health, disability among women, enhancing women’s voice, and gender-based violence is crucial. They impede the health and human capacity development of women. Supporting access to effective interventions such as reducing malnutrition, preventing anemia, and improving access to essential health services, including effective contraception, is important for ensuring women’s wellbeing. At the same time, research has shown that investing in women’s education is another critical contributor to child health, as there is a strong correlation between a mother’s primary school completion and better infant health. A survey undertaken between 1970 and 2009 on the education of women and its impact on child mortality in 175 countries showed that half of the reduction in child mortality cases over the past 40 years can be attributed to the better education of women.   

Things women should do

In order to ensure that they are in optimal health women need to eat a balanced and nutritious diet, exercise enough exercise, Sleep for at least 6-8 hours each night, take a break from their daily routine at least once a week, do something that they really enjoy and also spend some time with their friends. At any cost, women’s wellness should not be neglected.