Health is a crucial aspect that contributes not only to individual well-being but also to global economic prosperity. What’s more, women’s health issues are diverse, and they are influenced by a variety of variables such as gender inequities, early marriage, domestic violence and sexual abuse, malnutrition, poverty, illiteracy, and lack of access to excellent healthcare, all of which are serious concerns today.
Women are a vital part of society and are the primary caregivers in every country, but they still suffer more and have poorer health outcomes than males around the world, with consequences not only for women but also for their families.
The International Day of Action for Women’s Health is observed on May 28th, with a focus on women’s health and rights. We must raise awareness among this fragile but fiercely committed group of people.
Millions of women and teenage girls around the world suffer from poor health and social status, making healthcare services accessible and affordable a challenge in 21st-century India. Poor nutrition affects women’s growth and development at all stages of life, and they are more likely to give birth to babies with low birth weight. Women are frequently mistreated and abused as a result of gender-based discrimination (desire for a son) and other social pathologies such as the dowry system and early marriage, which have a negative impact on society.
Every day, around 800 women die throughout the world from preventable causes associated to pregnancy and delivery, with India accounting for 20% of these deaths. NCDs account for seven of the top ten causes of mortality among Indian women, with heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory disorders topping the list. According to the NFHS-4 in 2016, India has the highest burden of anaemia among women, with 53.1 percent of non-pregnant women and 50.3 percent of pregnant women being anaemic, despite having various programmes and policies in place for the past 50 years, since the launch of the National Nutritional Anaemia Prophylaxis Program in 1970.
The least mentioned part of women’s health is reproductive rights. It is still necessary to provide simple access to safe abortion services.
Today, providing simple access to safe abortion services remains a difficulty, with abortion accounting for 14% of all maternal fatalities worldwide. To increase the quality of life, more focus should be paid to contraception awareness and meeting unmet family planning requirements. Another important aspect of women’s rights is establishing accountability for providing high-quality healthcare services to women.
Women have a very high tolerance for patience and stillness as a result of society’s mental conditioning. Women’s health is not a priority in our country, where metropolitan regions account for 75% of healthcare infrastructure and healthcare accounts for only 1.3 percent of GDP, which is much lower than the global average.
Despite taking the required steps to improve health indicators and provide universal healthcare, the government must concentrate on implementation and execution at all levels. With a special focus on India, establishing sustainable health through investment and a priority-driven strategy to strengthening and extending healthcare services and raising knowledge about women’s rights will result in Universal Health Coverage.