Women’s voice crucial in fighting inequalities, HIV, TB and STIs
The world will be incomplete without women. It is for this reason that women’s voice in decision-making in all aspects of life is extremely critical for the development of all.
Advertisement
The fact remains that when women have a say in private and public affairs, decisions reflect their needs, and often the needs of their families and communities. That is why people have over the years advocated for gender equality, particularly in the areas of decision-making.
Women's voices are crucial in addressing inequalities, HIV prevention, and overall women's health. This is because women face specific vulnerabilities to HIV due to biological, economic, and social or cultural factors. Therefore their active involvement in prevention strategies is extremely vital to addressing these vulnerabilities effectively.
The sad reality, however, is that the inequality between women and men is a complex interaction of unconscious social norms that are often invisible to us and institutions. Even though no country in the world has yet reached equality fully, efforts must be made and sustained to get to a level where everyone, irrespective of their genders, will be relevant in the decision-making table.
Ensuring that women’s voices count in families and societies will serve as a catalyst to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and also unlock the economic dividend that will come with greater participation of women at decision-making tables in both domestic and public life.
It is important to draw attention to the fact that gender equality, community engagement, and health are intricately connected. What it means is that gender inequalities and discrimination faced by women and girls poses significant risks to their well-being.
Thus enhancing gender equality benefits everyone by improving health and unlocking potential. For instance, when women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals receive education, their families experience better health outcomes. That is why when adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) have control over their sexual and reproductive health and exercise their rights, they can complete their education and pursue economic opportunities.
The subject of gender inequality is highly pervasive in many African countries. Addressing these inequalities is of paramount importance to the region’s development. The reason is that such disparities across African countries result in the exclusion and marginalisation of women and youth.
The voices of women is also particularly relevant in addressing health concerns, particularly in the areas of reproductive health and infectious diseases. For instance, while more men contract tuberculosis (TB), women who contract the disease suffer negative consequences from TB-related stigma, including intimate partner violence, loss of livelihoods, and divorce.
TB in AGYW can disrupt education and lead to disenfranchisement and limited economic opportunities. Additionally, cultural, and financial barriers can result in delayed diagnosis, treatment, and more severe illness.
Many have advocated that women's health should extend beyond reproductive health to encompass their overall well-being, recognizing the diversity in sex and gender across various aspects of health, including HIV, TB, malaria, and non-communicable diseases. And this can be achieved if women are involved in the decision-making process. By listening to women and letting their voices lead the way, it will help to strengthen health systems and get back on track with reaching critical global health targets. This is because during and after COVID-19, many women and girls experienced disruptions in accessing basic services and supplies.
Ms Josephine Oppong-Yeboah, who is a media personality and gender advocate believes that women's voices can challenge societal stigma and taboos surrounding HIV, reproductive health, and sexual well-being, adding that “This fosters open discussions, reduces discrimination, and encourages seeking healthcare without fear or judgment.”
For her, women's experiences intersect with various social determinants such as race, socioeconomic status, and geographic location and that their perspectives aid in creating inclusive strategies that consider these intersections to bridge inequalities.
She explained that women advocating for their health needs and rights could influence policies and ensure that healthcare systems prioritise services and resources addressing women’s specific health concerns.
“By amplifying women's voices, it empowers them to take charge of their health decisions, improving health literacy and fostering autonomy in healthcare choices,” Ms Oppong-Yeboah noted.
The Deputy Director of Yebi Ma Africa, an NGO, Ms Benedicta Gyimaah Folley, is of the view that women's perspectives in health discussions promote a comprehensive approach that not only focuses on diseases but also encompasses mental health, reproductive health, and overall well-being.
She noted that the active involvement and representation of women in discussions, policy-making, and implementation of health programmes are essential for effectively addressing HIV prevention, reducing inequalities, and enhancing women's health outcomes.
She was of the view that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic caused massive shocks to national economies and also deepened systematic and structural racial, ethnic and gender inequities everywhere—with women being the worse affected victims of the negative consequences of the COVID.
“As the pandemic hit and countries grappled with how best to address the mortality and morbidity directly caused by the virus, many other primary healthcare services were severely disrupted, among them crucial sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, as well as mental health care. Some of the measures taken to control the virus actually compounded and exacerbated many inequities women face in their daily lives,” Ms Folley explained.
For her, women's insights help in designing and implementing targeted interventions that consider their diverse needs, circumstances, and experiences.
That is why Speak Up Africa, a Dakar based policy think tank, together with her partners, Voix EssentiELLES and HER Voice Fund, in a statement during this year’s International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) expressed the view that addressing these inequalities is of paramount importance in Sub-Saharan Africa known for its high levels of inequality.
They were of the conviction that political will from governments is crucial, with an emphasis on creating safe and non-conservative environments and ensuring access to services without fear of criminalization or human rights violations.
They are also of the view that a broader perspective on women's health is required in issues such as HIV prevention, reproductive justice, healthcare system integration, as well as on inequalities.
They further called for investments and prioritisation of community-led interventions and accessible healthcare services for diverse women.
Similarly, Speak Up Africa and its partners also believe that prevention technologies and innovations should be accessible, affordable, and available to empower diverse women to have autonomy and choice over their reproductive health and rights.
In their statement, they advocated for the institutionalisation of community-led services to be promoted, moving away from volunteerism to secure long-term recognition and gains.
“There is a need for meaningful and ethically sound engagement and leadership of these communities in discussions related to HIV, TB, and malaria, underpinned by gender-transformative approaches,” they stated.
