Woman health issues highlighted

[Naveed Yaseen]

THE Pakistan Medical Society (PMS) has highlighted anemia, pregnancy risks, menopausal disturbances and heart disease as major causes of morbidity and mortality among women.

“The society should focus on investing in women’s health as prescribed by World Health Organization,” said Dr Masood Akhtar Sheikh, PMS chairman, while speaking at a seminar organised by the PMS in connection with the International Women’s Day (IWD) by the PMS in collaboration with Women and Child Trust at a private school at Allama Iqbal Town, Lahore, on Sunday. Focus was to highlight the ways and means by which health and education status of the women could be strengthened.

Dr Masood Sheikh said iron deficiency in women was a cause for concern. A recent survey showed that more than 50 per cent women suffer from iron deficiency. “More than half of adolescent girls are anemic,” he said. He said that cardiovascular disease was the leading killer in women. Women with diabetes are two to three times more likely to have heart attacks. High blood pressure is also common among women taking oral contraceptives,” he said. He said that four in 10 births worldwide were not attended by doctor or health professional. He said that 60 pc of the world’s poorest are females. He said 10 million more girls than boys did not attend primary school. He stated violence against women killed and injured as many women as cancer did. He said the International Women’s Day continued to be relevant and vital point of reference for liberation.

Dr Iram, the school’s principal, said educating girls was single most effective strategy for economic growth. There are still many challenges and obstacles facing aspiring woman leaders today all around the world. Women receive only 10 per cent of the world’s income and own less than one per cent of land although their contribution to the workforce is considerable. Globally there is still a gender pay gap and women’s health overall around the world is worse than that of men.

Miss Tayyaba, Director of Mother and Child Trust, said that the new millennium had witnessed a significant change in both women’s and society’s thoughts about women’s equality and emancipation.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=166344