There is an urgent need to address gender inequity, reproductive health disparities, and maternal and child mortality to ensure women and girls can access lifesaving, high-quality healthcare services.
This is according to a new review article published on the peer-reviewed medical journal, Nature Medicine, titled ‘Women’s Health and Rights in the 21st Century’ authored by Professor Marleen Temmerman, Director of Aga Khan University’s Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, East Africa (CoEWCH EA), alongside Dr Samuel Akombeng Ojong, Dr Rajat Khosla, and Dr Flavia Bustreo.
The article revisits the unfinished agenda of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly goals 3 (good health and well-being) and 5 (gender equality). It highlights their importance and emphasizes the need of putting women’s and girl’s health and rights first in order to ensure their survival, progress, and empowerment. The authors also call attention to how climate change impacts women's wellbeing and the potential of digital technologies to advance women's health and rights.
"Ensuring that women and girls have access to comprehensive, high-quality healthcare is essential for their overall wellbeing. We must tackle the systemic issues while leveraging advancements in technology to make real progress,” says Prof Marleen Temmerman.
One of the most alarming issues discussed is maternal deaths, which are especially high in sub-Saharan Africa, with some areas reporting over 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births. The authors point out that funding cuts, a lack of emphasis on maternal health, and political or cultural agendas that restrict women’s socioeconomic rights have all impeded efforts to reduce the number of maternal deaths worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa, where 70% of maternal deaths occur, challenges are worsened by insufficient healthcare access, lack of skilled healthcare workers, and inadequate emergency obstetric services.
Despite these challenges, the review identifies opportunities for advancing the health and rights of women and girls. The authors emphasize the importance of person-centred, respectful sexual and reproductive health services, including meeting the family planning needs of women and girls and providing safe abortion care.
The concept of intersectionality is also a key focus of the article. Intersectionality recognises that individuals face many, overlapping forms of oppression or privilege based on gender, race, socioeconomic status, age, geographical location, sexual orientation, or disability status, which need to be considered when addressing women’s health and rights.
To advance the cause of women's health and rights, the authors list five essential, actionable priorities: advancing the unfinished ICPD agenda; mitigating the effects of climate change on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR); empowering women and girls; utilizing technology to benefit women and girls; and promoting gender equality in global health leadership. Additionally, the writers propose evidence-based strategies and policy recommendations to ensure no woman or girl is left behind.
“Addressing the critical health challenges faced by women and girls requires a renewed commitment and collaborative effort from the global community. By prioritising women's health and rights, we can empower them to thrive and foster a more inclusive and sustainable future,” adds Prof Temmerman.
The future of women's health and rights demands a flexible and dynamic approach. Through collaborative efforts and a holistic approach, societies may shape a world where women's health and rights are not just aspirations, but lived realities.
