Women's Health Strategy 2024: A Focus on Empowering Her Health

Why Do Women's Reproductive Rights Matter?

Ever wondered why there’s so much talk about women’s reproductive rights? It’s because these rights affect our health in big ways and have been a major focus for advocacy over the last few years. As a female dominant team this is something we feel strongly about. The Women’s Health Strategy for 2024 is all about addressing the critical areas of our health, from menstrual issues to menopause, maternity care, and support for birth trauma. It’s all about protecting and advancing these rights through continued support and legislative efforts.

What barriers do women face?

Despite some progress, there are still many hurdles preventing women from getting the reproductive healthcare we need. Here are some of the main ones:

Economic Barriers: Even though we have healthcare systems in some countries like the NHS here in the UK, costs like prescriptions, travel, and taking time off work can add up, especially for women from lower-income backgrounds.

Geographic Barriers: Living in a rural area? You might have to travel a long way to find specialised care. This can mean delays in getting diagnosed and treated.

Legal Barriers: There are still legal restrictions on abortion, such as gestational limits and required approvals, that make timely access to care difficult. Contraception might be widely available, but service availability can limit access.

Sociocultural Barriers: There’s still a lot of stigma around reproductive health issues like menstrual health and sexual health. A lack of comprehensive education also leads to misinformation and hesitation in seeking care.

How can we address health disparities?

We need to make sure everyone gets fair and equal healthcare, no matter who they are or where they come from. Here’s how we can do that:

First, we must understand how different factors like race, class, and identity impact access to healthcare. This means listening to communities and gathering information on their needs. We should train healthcare providers to be more culturally sensitive and hire diverse staff to better serve everyone.

Language is a big deal too. We need to offer services in multiple languages and make health information easy to understand for everyone. Creating healthcare programs that address the specific needs, and working with local organizations, ensures people get the care they need.

Policy changes are also crucial. We should push for laws that promote equity in healthcare and support initiatives that provide resources to underserved areas. Raising awareness through public campaigns and educating healthcare providers on the best ways to reduce disparities can make a big difference.

Empowering communities is key. We can do this by setting up support groups and encouraging grassroots movements that advocate for health equity. Finally, we need to keep an eye on how well these efforts are working and get feedback from the communities we’re trying to help.

By taking these steps, we can build a healthcare system that’s fair, inclusive, and accessible to everyone.

Why should we focus on promoting advocacy?

Empowering women to speak up for their health rights is crucial because it ensures our voices are heard and our needs are met.  Together, we can break down barriers and ensure every woman gets the healthcare she deserves. Join us in our mission to empower women and advocate for our health rights!

The education and promotion of advocacy of women’s health is something we strive for daily, follow our Instagram account @empower.her.health to stay up to date!

Reference

Health Secretary announces new women's health priorities for 2024. Accessible at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/health-secretary-announces-new-womens-health-priorities-for-2024