On International Women’s Day (March
8th), The College) is celebrating the
government’s commitment to women’s health with the
strategy which is currently under
development.
The College
says women’s rights are fragile globally with
discrimination, bias, stigma, sexist stereotypes and
inequalities still being navigated by women on a daily
basis.
College Chief Executive, Alison Eddy, says they
welcome the ongoing development of a Women’s Health
Strategy and it has to be made a priority.
“The
proposed strategy aims to recognise the specific health
needs over the course of girls and women’s lives that have
been previously overlooked or not resourced effectively. A
life-course approach which centres on the evolving health
needs of girls and women with services that are designed
specifically for women, is an exciting prospect, and the
College hopes the Women’s Health Strategy will deliver a
change to the ‘male as default’ approach which has
dominated health systems for many years,” she
says.
The College says women’s health needs have
been under-researched, under diagnosed and under
resourced.
“A vast amount of research has been
limited because women have been excluded due to their
reproductive lives – menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding
and menopause. This research blindness and lack of attention
to biological differences has not served women well. Women
are 51% of the population and their voices have to be heard,
for services to be inclusive and meet their evolving life
course health needs,” says Ms Eddy.
The College
continues to champion the rights of women and midwives who
are the health professionals dedicated to working with women
on their pregnancy, labour and post natal
journey.
“On International Women’s Day it is
timely to reiterate that meeting the reproductive health
needs of women must be a priority. In Aotearoa around
60,000 babies are born each year, and the
majority of women receive midwifery care via our unique
maternity service model which centres care around the needs
of the woman and her baby. There is always work to do and we
will continue to ensure that our free midwifery-led
maternity system is strengthened and available to all,”
says Alison Eddy.
-Ends- #EmbraceEquity
in women’s health care is a hash tag for
IWD
For more information please contact Ali
Jones on 0272473112. Alison Eddy is available for interview
today and tomorrow – The College National Office is in
Christchurch, on the edge of the
CBD.
Additional:
International
Women’s Day grew out of the labour movement, and women
working in the garment industry who went on strike in 1908
in New York to protest against their working
conditions.
On International Women’s Day 2023 we
recognise that many battles are not yet won, there are new
challenges arising, and there is still a mountain of work to
be done to improve women’s rights, visibility, inclusion
and equality in health, education, workplaces, and daily
lives.
Demand change and #EmbraceEquity
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