Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Does Living Longer Really Mean Living Better?


A new study done by the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that despite the fact that on average women live 6-8 years long then men, women are still being denied the chance to live life to their fullest potential due to the lack of essential health care (lame!).

Although women often seek medical attention more then men, there are still obstacles standing in their way, such as failure to get adequate treatment. An article from CommonDreams.org noted, “Women generally live longer than men, but their lives are not necessarily healthy or happy” and that “the obstacles that stand in the way of better health for women are not primarily technical or medical in nature. They are social and political.” Better access to health care is not simply about overcoming economic struggles and money issues; it is about changing social and political norms within a society.

Unfortunately, many health care systems are not fully capable when dealing with women’s issues despite the fact that women make up half the population. WHO estimated that “99 percent of the estimated 500,000 women who die every year giving birth are in developing countries where medical supplies and skilled workers are in short supply.”

Unequal access to health care is wrong and detrimental to women around the world. The lack of access to quality health care are denying women the change to live life to their fullest potential, who knows with quality health care women might be able to outlive men 10-15 years!

Photo Credit: takimabibelot on flickr.com

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