Millions of women worldwide lack access to the healthcare they require and are unable to fully engage in society.
International development organisation Sightsavers is urging all health services to be inclusive and accessible for women and girls, including those with disabilities, on this Women’s Day in order to enable women to access adequate healthcare and enjoy meaningful participation in society.
Millions of women worldwide lack access to the health-care services they require and are unable to fully engage in society.
Sightsavers is honouring the pioneering and real women of substance who are working to make this a reality on this Women’s Day. One such powerful woman is inspirational disability rights activist and Sightsavers board member Abia Akram.
She persevered in the face of overwhelming opposition and stood firm to advocate for women and girls with disabilities.
Abia has played a key role in organising the Asia-Pacific region and Pakistan’s youth and women with disabilities. Abia argues that it is crucial to work on legislative and policy reforms because they bring about a systemic transformation in the lives of women and girls with disabilities.
Sightsavers Pakistan Country Office Country Director Munazza Gillani appreciates all such women who are improving the lives of other women.
According to her, “Women with disabilities are three times more likely than men without disabilities to not access the healthcare they need.” We must all work together to ensure that all women and girls have access to quality healthcare because “without action, women will continue to suffer more frequently than men, and their contributions to education and employment will continue to be limited.”
Says Abia “I’m proud of myself if even one person’s life is changed, because at least I’m trying to make a difference in the lives of girls and women with disabilities. We have seen the challenges they are facing and how difficult the lives of those women with disabilities are when families consider them a burden “.
Women have less access to eye care services than men do, and they are more likely to be blind or have other visual impairments.
Recent Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) surveys conducted by Sightsavers in four districts revealed that many women cited financial concerns and a fear of surgery as reasons why they were unable to receive treatment.
The survey also revealed that of those with diabetes, which can endanger a patient’s vision, 21.4% were women and 15.1% were men. It is challenging for women to obtain eye care services due to a number of barriers, including stigma, affordability, availability, and unequal access.
The difficulties faced by women in rural areas are even greater. By lowering service costs and increasing accessibility in women’s communities, Sightsavers breaks down these gender-based barriers and makes it simpler for women to receive the necessary eye care. We also call for the government’s health agenda to give eye health top priority.
Sightsavers collaborates with organisations in Africa and Asia to remove obstacles that prevent women and girls from receiving quality healthcare, to advance everyone’s right to health, and to combat harmful stereotypes. We also advocate for the rights of women and girls to vote, to work, and to receive an education.