- Each dollar invested in contraceptive services saves up to $31 in other social services
- Healthier women can pursue careers and contribute to national development
- Policymakers need to think about the connections between women’s health and national development
Women’s economists consider women’s health a key determining factor in national development; women’s health refers to the range of health experiences that affect women uniquely, differently, or disproportionately to men.
“The women’s health gap is the disease burden associated with inequities between women and men in intervention efficacy, care delivery, and data,” explains authors of a recent report by the World Economic Forum.
The McKinsey Health Institute authors the report. It shows that ‘closing the women’s health gap globally could result in better overall health, fewer early deaths, and a boost in the economy.’
“Comparatively, more than half of the women’s health burden reflects conditions that affect women disproportionately or differently, with most of the impact affecting women’s working years,“ details the report.
The authors insist that while women’s health gap is vast, change can begin by tackling specific diseases and conditions at a country or regional level, and “by closing the chasm, women can become healthier, and long-lasting ripple effects begin and the economy benefits.”
The report shows that in African countries where women have adequate access to reproductive health services, for example, there is better economic performance overall.
“This shows that healthier women work more and more efficiently making them more productive…it also implies that costs incurred in the care are reduced allowing for reinvestment in other development areas,“ reads the report in part.
Regarding women’s health, the maternity period is of key significance. Depending on how a country provides maternal care for its women, its economic productivity is affected, explains UNFPA in a recent report titled Investing in Women’s Health – the Key to Africa’s Economic Development.
“Africa records highest maternal death ratio in the world, with 57 per cent of all maternal deaths occurring on the continent,“ UNFPA reports.
UNFPA also notes that there has been some progress in improving the maternal mortality ratio for sub-Saharan Africa, with the rate falling by 41 per cent. However, a total of 189,000 of the 358,000 maternal deaths that occur every year worldwide still take place in Africa.
“For any pregnant woman in sub-Saharan Africa, the risk of death from pregnancy-related issues is 1 in 39, compared to the industrialised world, where it is 1 in 4,700,“ UNFPA reports.
With such huge differences in women’s health care delivery, the experts correlate these differences with the national economic performance of African countries.
“The current situation of poor maternal health and low use of family planning has major socio-economic consequences for the continent,“ UNFPA warns.
According to UNFPA, when a mother dies, an orphaned child does not get the food or education they need, or a girl experiences life without opportunities, the consequences extend beyond the existence of these individuals.
“Several studies and experts have argued that investing in women’s health is a key to economic development on the continent,“ the authority asserts.
UNFPA explains that when women stay healthier, they are more productive and have a chance to access opportunities for education, training, and employment, which benefits their families, communities, and ultimately their nations.
“Investment in reproductive health is cost effective,“ it adds. “Each dollar invested in contraceptive services saves up to $4 in health expenditure and as much as $31 in other social services such as education, housing and sanitation,“ reports UNFPA.
In its summary of a comprehensive report on the economic benefits of healthier women, UNFPA points out that; “The economic benefit of family planning is also well documented. Studies have shown that if there is at least a two years difference between births, the number of deaths among children younger than five years would decline by 13 per cent. The number would decline by 25 per cent if there was a three-year gap between births.”
UNFPA holds that if the continent is to continue making the remarkable economic and social progress it has achieved over the past decade, then reducing child and maternal deaths and access to healthcare must be a top priority for African policymakers.
Also Read: Unlocking the potential of African Women in AfCFTA
Women’s health: A healthy woman can pursue a career
Closing the gap of women health inequities in Africa.[Photo/linkedin.com] “When a woman is healthy, she can follow her dreams and career, which will her to be financially independent. Additionally, it allows her to leave abusive relationships,“ writes Dr. Stellah Bosire, the Director Africa Center for Healthcare Systems and Gender Justice in Kenya.
The expert notes, “As a medical practioner working at the cross-section of legal justice and health, it’s clear that when women are healthy, it unlock women’s economic power. ”
It is clearer to the expert that healthy women participate in the labour force for simple reasons, such as not missing work due to sickness. The health expert also points out that women who are healthy (and that includes having access to adequate food and clean water)have better cognitive abilities.
“You see, health isn’t just about medicine. Preventative care, screenings for cervical cancer, its also about economics growth, because if health conditions are diagonised early, it frees up resources for everyonewhich can be used elsewhere,“ the expert warns.
In her view, this is also the case when it comes to preventing early marriage, domestic violence, and female genital mutilation(FGM),Because this issues affects not only women but the society at large. “…women who have less issiues regarding their reproductive health make immense contribution to the growth of the economy. If you link it to microeconomic level all the way to the macroeconomics, family planning has a relation to gross dommestic product (GDP).“
“It works in the other direction too, When women possess economic power, better health outcomes are seen. If women struggle financialy, they suffer more from chronic conditions,“ she observes.
She advises that; “both policymakers,government and economists shoulyd analyse these connections, because investing in women has huge ripple effects.”
“For women to continue fueling economic growth…they need access to better healthcare,“ sums up Malado Kaba, the Director of the Gender, Women and Civil Society section at the African Development Bank.
Read Also: African Women Entrepreneurs: Key anchor for growth
