The World Health Organization (WHO)called for girls' and women's healthcare reform on Monday in Geneva.
A WHO report titled "Women and health: today's evidence tomorrow's agenda" used current data to track the disparities in female health from
newborns to adults over 60 years of age.
"If women are denied a chance to develop their full human potential, including their potential to lead healthier and at least somewhat happier lives, is society as a whole really healthy? " asked WHO Director-general Dr. Margaret Chan.
The report states that while women compose the bulk of health care providers, their own health needs often go unmet in the areas of sexual
violence, cervical cancer screening and mental health. In addition, lower socio-economic status, which translates to lack of access to education,
decision-making and income, limits women's ability to protect their own health, the study said.
"We will not see significant progress as long as women are regarded as second-class citizens in so many parts of the world," Dr. Chan said, adding
that "these unequal power relations translate into unequal access to health care and unequal control over health resources."
The report advises creating opportunities for female leadership, designing health systems that better meet women's needs, leveraging changes
in public policy to address how social and economic determinants of health adversely impact women, and building a better knowledge base.
The Geneva-based WHO was formed in 1948 and has 193 members.