In from the Margin Seminar ‘Women Together : Creating Change to Promote Women’s Health’
Published: Thursday, January 23, 2003
One hundred women from community groups in the North-west came together today at a seminar in Sligo to demand change and plan action to promote Women's Health. The seminar examined women's health issues with keynote addresses, participatory workshops and creative inputs.
The seminar demanded that the health services show a greater commitment to promoting women's health and to delivering services accessible services to all women. "Women in the Northwest do not have equal access to health services such as breast cancer screening and care", stated, Monica-Anne Brennan, Project Coordinator. "We are concerned at the slowness of the government in establishing the Breast Check programme in the Northwest", she stated. "There is also need to re-examine the threshold of medial card entitlements and to include access to health prevention services for card-holders", stated Ms. Brennan.
Speakers at the event drew attention to the close links between women's poverty, social exclusion, and poor health. Monica-Anne Brennan, Project Coordinator called on "the government to take action to improve the social and economic conditions impacting on women's health and well-being". "There is a need to redress problems such as poverty, the lack of affordable accommodation, childcare and poor public transportation in rural areas", she stated.
The seminar highlighted the need for a greater involvement of women in decision making, planning, and delivery of health services. "The structures now in place are not encouraging the participation of women", stated Nora Newell of Letterkenny Women's Centre. She called on the North Western Health Board "to develop a more respectful and equitable partnership with women's groups which recognise the resources and capacity they could offer in supporting women's health."
Today's Conference was organised by the National Women's Council of Ireland as part of its In From The Margin Project1, which is working to create change for women on poverty, anti racism and health.