Irish Women’s Health Meeting International Standards?

Published: Monday, September 25, 2006

Today, Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney, T.D. launches the National Women's Council of Ireland new publication "Women's Health - Meeting International Standards".

The report is being launched at a time;

• when the all cancer mortality (death) rate in women in Ireland is second highest in Western Europe;
• when for women living in a deprived area, the risk of developing --- cervical cancer is almost three times higher than the national average;
• when eating disorders are 10 times more common among girls than boys
• when we are living in a country with one of the highest rates of poverty in Europe with women over represented in poverty and particularly older women whose risk of poverty rises dramatically as they age - (poverty is accepted internationally as an overarching determinant of ill health and premature death);
• And when many women clearly experience a range of health inequalities compounded by social exclusion.

The National Women's Council calls for a new Health Strategy for women that meets International standards.

Speaking at the launch Dr Marie Hainsworth, NWCI Board Member and member of the Women's Health Council says that "We have produced this document as our contribution towards developing a health service that meets the interests and needs of women in Ireland. We are looking for a national women's health action plan which will ensure that all women in Ireland are enabled to reach and maintain optimal levels of health across their lifecycle."

The National Women's Council believes that the different experiences of men and women are not reflected in general health policy and specific mention of women is most often confined to women-only illnesses.

"What we want to highlight is how the inequality of women's position in society affects their health status, experience of health and health care. Basically women's health is often determined by where they live and how much money they have." said Annie Dillion, health spokesperson for the NWCI.

"This report has assessed Irish health policies in light of international standards, with case studies from Canada and Australia that demonstrate how other countries have adopted these standards in their national health policy. We are very happy to present this report to the Minister for Health today and hope for a renewed commitment by the Government to women's health set within best practice internationally."