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As per the constitution of the World Health
Organization, “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is
one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of
race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition”. Furthermore,
“the extension to all peoples of the benefits of medical, psychological and
related knowledge is essential to the fullest attainment of health”.
Public health services are meant for all people
regardless of their gender and economic or social status. However, the world
is increasingly becoming aware of differences in the men as compared with
women. These differences relate to social, economic, cultural and political
factors or situations, and they determine the health status of the two
genders. The above-mentioned differences in the condition of men and women
are referred to as gender perspectives which enable from certain ideologies
of people based on social and cultural expectations rather than on physical
equalities; they refer to learned attitudes and behaviours that characterize
people of one sex or the other (Benokraitis, Nijole V, New Yersey, 1996).
The traditional gender roles and stereotypes are the
result of patriarchal cultures in which men regarded as superior to women;
this has contributed to gender inequality that also leads to health
inequality between men and women. The world is changing due to globalization.
Therefore, the traditional stereotypes of men and women, especially those
related to their health status should also be expected to change.
There is a general lack of understanding of the gender
perspective with regard to the implementation of basic human rights. In this context, we must consider the poor
health status of women arising from various factors, such as: maternal
mortality; domestic violence; female trafficking; and sexually transmitted
infections; especially the worse condition of pregnant women suffering from
HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, etc. Such
poor health status of women is caused by the lack of decision making power
among women with regard to their economic, educational and social status.
The current era of globalization is expected to remove
the traditional disadvantages faced by women through relevant policies and
programmes aimed at ensuring health equality and justice for all mankind.
WHO has accorded due attention to gender equality
through appropriate World Health Assembly resolutions on the subject. The
World Health Assembly resolution WHA 49.25 (1996) also declared violence
against women a leading worldwide public health problem. There are about 20
items mentioned in the WHA Resolutions (2002-2006) which are related to
gender perspectives such as reproductive and sexual health, HIV/AID,
disasters, conflict, healthy diet and physical activity, nutrition,
individual: child, adolescent, maternal and community health, health
promotion, health services etc.
WHO announced a gender policy in 2002 which was aimed at
contributing to better health for women and men through health research and
through policies and programmes according due attention to gender
considerations, thereby promoting equality and equity between men and women.
One of the objectives of the gender policy is to promote health equity and
gender equality between men and women throughout the life span.
In March 2002, the WHO policy on integrating gender
perspectives into the work of WHO was approved; this provided a framework for
specific action by the Organization at global, regional and national levels.
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