Yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a major report, Women and Health: Today’s Evidence, Tomorrow’s Agenda (download full PDF of report at link). The report was announced at a press conference at a high-level international meeting in Geneva this week by WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan. IWHC President Adrienne Germain attended the launch later that day.
A WHO press release yesterday outlined some of the report’s major points:
-
• Women provide the bulk of health care, but rarely receive the care they need
• Women live longer than men but these extra years are not always healthy
• Despite some biological advantages, women’s health suffers from their lower socio-economic status
• Policy change and action is needed within the health sector and beyond
In the subsequent press around the release of the report, it has been revealed that worldwide, HIV is the leading cause of death and disease among women between the ages of 15 and 44.
