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In matters of health, it matters whether you are a woman or a man.
The realities of men's and women's lives are
frequently different.
The Manitoba Women's Health Strategy provides a foundation on which
to build a new approach to women's health and outlines a variety of
action steps to achieve this end. These steps are viewed as a
starting point from which the women's health agenda can grow and
develop. The strategy's purpose is to ensure the health status
of women is addressed in a co-ordinated, sustainable, equitable and
gender-manner.
WHY A WOMEN'S HEALTH STRATEGY?
Women make up 51 per cent of the Canadian population. Women
are frequently the guardians of the health of other family members and
their communities. Women also make up the largest number of
health care providers and informal caregivers.
Women's health issues are different. In addition to obvious
issues related to reproductive health, women also face an increased
rate of chronic illnesses as they age, as well as higher rates of
mental illness such as depression. Women experience diseases and
illnesses, such as heart disease and stroke, differently from
men. Only five per cent of Canadian research funding deals
exclusively with women's health issues. Issues of violence, poor
economic status and lower incomes affect more women than men.
The Women's Health Strategy recognizes the distinct health needs of
women in the planning, implementation and delivery of health care
services, and seeks to ensure awareness and responsiveness to gender
differences in all aspects of health care delivery in Manitoba.
WOMEN'S HEALTH STRATEGY GOALS
- To reduce the risk factors that contribute to the poor health of
many women
- To support development of a health system that is sensitive and
responsive to women's health
- To establish an effective mechanism for women to influence the
health care system
- To promote a wellness model based on adequate public education
and prevention of disease, in addition to the existing treatment
model
- To ensure that the continuum of care for women spans all life
stages
- To build broad understanding that women’s health status
includes their physical, emotional and mental health
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES
- Gender, race, disability and sexual orientation have an impact
on women's health status.
- All Manitoba women, regardless of their place of residence, need
access to health services.
- Gender is a determinant of population health.
- Gender is an issue in the delivery of health care services.
Gender analysis of all health policies and programs is an
important part of service delivery.
- A holistic approach that considers socio-economic factors is
critical to improving women's health status.
- Health strategies, programs and services must address all of
women's life stages.
- The representation of women in decision-making roles in health
care is vital.
- The participation of women in informing health policy and
services is essential.
- Research that forms the basis of treatment methods must include
participation of both sexes.
- Resources allocated for research must reflect an equitable
distribution between the specific health concerns of women and
men.
- Addressing women's health issues requires the involvement of
other levels of government and agencies.
IMPLEMENTING THE STRATEGY
The Women's Health Unit of taking the lead and co-ordinating the
Strategy, in conjunction with the Manitoba Women's
Directorate.
There are four main organizational components within which work
will be done to implement the strategy:
- Manitoba Health
- The regional health authorities of Manitoba
- Communities across Manitoba
- Other levels of government, provincial government departments
and organizations.
These four components are pivotal to increasing awareness and
responsiveness to women's health issues.
The Minister of Health and the Minister
responsible for the Status of Women have stated that gender is
a determinant of health in Manitoba.
Identifying gender
as a determinant of health – along with income, education,
social support and other health determinants – is an
important step in recognizing that the health needs of women
and men are different.
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The initial steps of the implementation
process include:
- Increasing knowledge and understanding of women's health within
Manitoba Health and the regional health authorities.
- Identifying the indicators of women’s health, and collecting
and analyzing the data related to Manitoba women.
- Contributing to the efforts of other government departments and
sectors to address women's health issues.
- Involving women in the planning and delivery of health services
by obtaining input from diverse groups of women throughout
Manitoba.
Key actions to date:
- Sessions have been held within Manitoba Health and with
representatives of regional health authorities on gender-inclusive
analysis to encourage including gender throughout the whole health
planning process.
- Materials are being developed to assist the regional health
authorities to identify women's needs in their community needs
assessments.
- A project focusing on gender and health planning, in partnership
with the Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence and the
regional health authorities, has been approved and work is under
way.
- Manitoba’s regional health authorities have identified women's
health representatives and are developing ways to ensure ongoing
input and feedback from diverse groups of women.
- Initial steps have been taken to develop a Manitoba Health
internal working group as a mechanism to promote a comprehensive
and co-ordinated approach to addressing women's health issues
within the department. A first task could be to develop a
provincial profile of women's health.
- The Women's Health Unit of Manitoba Health continues to work in
close collaboration with the Manitoba Women's
Directorate, the
lead resource on interdepartmental issues related to women.
- The Manitoba Women's Directorate will develop a public awareness
campaign to highlight the importance of women's contributions to
community health planning. The campaign will also encourage
women to apply or submit names for regional health authority board
memberships, as positions become vacant.
- The Minister responsible for the Status of Women is currently
holding consultations with women throughout the province.
The issues raised will help to guide the development of future
government policy and the delivery of health care services.
Including
Gender in Health Planning:
A Guide for Regional Health
Authorities
May 2003 | 25 pages
This tool has been developed by the Prairie Women's Health
Centre of Excellence with funding and assistance from Manitoba
Health, to assist Regional Health Authorities to include gender
in their upcoming Community Health Assessments. The Guide is
also being used to promote gender and health planning in
Manitoba Health. Audience: Health care professionals.
For more information about The Manitoba
Women's Health Strategy: |
Health Programs - Women's Health Unit
Manitoba Health
300 Carlton St.
Winnipeg MB R3B 3M9
Phone: (204) 788-6661
FAX: (204) 948-2366 |
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