Improving women’s health key to sustaining families, developing economies

FORTY-ONE YEARS after the World Health Organization sponsored Declaration of Alma-ata – that primary health care for all is not a privilege, but a basic human right – several women in Jamaica are still not able to get access to the tools for improved health, even in its most basic form, because of cost.

The upshot? Some important health issues affecting many women

often go undetected, usually until its too late.

Based on the latest available data, from the 2016-2017 Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey III, less than half of women in the reproductive age group 15 to 54 reported having had a Pap smear done in the last three years; and only six per cent of women aged four to 64 years report having done a mammogram in the last year.

Experts advise that the first step in maintaining good health is educating yourself about what to do to remain healthy. Other key steps include:

1. Eating healthy, balanced meals.

2. Getting regular exercise for at least 30 minutes, five times per week.

3. Not smoking.

4. Limiting alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day.

5. Practising safe sex by using a condom every time you have sex, or abstaining, if you can. In an effort to maintain your health and head off any unforeseen situation, you should visit your doctor for a yearly check-up, which should include having screenings done to make sure your body is operating at an optimum level.