Women Health is as much important as that of any other gender. It is evident that women are one of the most marginalized section of societies around the world. The slogans of gender equality echo from every corner of earth. While women face gender-based discrimination, it is evident that they are also deprived of their basic right to health.
Maternal health care
During times of pregnancy and while delivering a baby, women go through a lot of health related issues. On World Health Day, I couldn’t think of anything else but my own experience through postpartum depression. It is a condition that most of the new mothers go through. They face mild to severe spells of depression. Few mothers get support of their family while most vulnerable women who do not get any support in such a tough time suffer a lot.
The dilemma of fake peers and exploited women
In Pakistan when it comes to mental health of women, people label them as ‘attention seekers’ or ‘psycho’. In worst cases the women are victims of ‘peers’ and fake spiritualists who call them possessed. Many women suffer through miserable conditions and fake spiritual healers sexually exploit them. Instead of getting treatment by a specialist in mental healthcare, families give unqualified people a chance to exploit women.
Unqualified midwives, abortions and maternal mortality
Prevalent underground abortion business of unqualified midwives and fake doctors undermine women health. This has put at risk and taken many innocent lives of women. In Pakistan the maternal mortality rate is too high. It suggests that around 12% of total deaths of married women between 15 to 49 years of age were due to maternal causes. Despite such an alarming situation, the women face deprivation of their basic right to health.
Illiteracy and ignorance undermine and strangle women health rights
Women also suffer through social issues. Pakistan faces the issue of illiteracy and ignorance. This became clear when a husband killed his wife in interior Sindh. She was HIV positive and contracted the disease through used syringes. However, her husband was illiterate enough to kill her for his honor.
Women go through constant issues of well-being
The likes of monthly cycle, pregnancy, delivery and menopause are just crude examples of women’s health-related challenges. This is so common that nobody gives it any importance. Often people expect women to be like all ‘women’ and not complain and cry of their suffering because everyone goes through same processes. However, it is not true; every woman is different, every woman has different capacity and capability to face these health-related phases of life. Similarly, every woman has a different level of how healthy her body is.
Women health rights violation is a global issue
It is utterly sad that the female gender goes through one or the other dilemma of her right to health. Women rights are violation is common around the world. Some African tribes do not allow a menstruating woman to stay inside the house; they set up menstruation camps where they spend their time until the period of their menstruation. They have to compromise their hygiene and health in such camps. Similarly, women do not get any basic assistance to health programs especially in developing countries. It is high time to highlight it as an important issue in world forums.
