Opinion | Women’s Health: A Social Concern

In today’s world, where much of what we eat is filled with pesticides and chemically treated, living a healthy lifestyle has become essential for all of us. When we talk about health it’s not just about the physical one but also mental health. But in this effort, women’s health deserves special focus. A healthy woman is the foundation of a healthy generation. A healthy mother gives birth to a healthy child, and her well-being impacts not just her family, but society as a whole. Women’s health, therefore, is not just a personal matter—it is a social concern that shapes the future of communities and nations.

Importance of Women’s Health

Women’s health is vital because it holds families together. When a woman is healthy, she raises healthy children, who in turn bring harmony and happiness into the home. Only when women are healthy a family can truly function well and thrive. Beyond being caregivers, women are also workers, leaders, and nurturers. They stand as the strongest pillars of society. No nation can achieve true prosperity unless women’s health is protected, prioritized, and valued.

Problems in Women’s Health

These days, women do so much. They’re expected to handle the house, family, and often work, too. Balancing work and life is hard, and women often carry that load. Sadly, they deal with anaemia, poor nutrition, anxiety, and depression. Almost 80% of people with autoimmune diseases are women, and they’re at a higher risk for many cancers. They’re more prone to osteoporosis, which weakens bones, and studies show women have a greater heart attack risk than men.

Then there are issues related to periods, pregnancy, and childbirth. About 57% of women between 15 and 49 have anaemia. It hurts pregnant women and their babies. There’s been progress – India’s fertility rate is dropping – but big issues remain. About 23% of women still marry before 18. Young girls aren’t ready for motherhood, and early marriage can lead to risky pregnancies and miscarriages.

Violence against women is also alarming. About 30% of women between 18 and 49 have faced physical violence since they were 15. It damages their health, lives, and participation in the world.

Maternal health is still a major worry. About 3,00,000 women die each year from pregnancy or childbirth-related issues. A baby is stillborn every 16 seconds, and over 2 million die in the first 3 months. At this pace, most countries won’t meet the UN’s maternal health goals by 2030.

Cervical cancer is another silent killer, taking about 70,000 women’s lives yearly in India. Many still suffer because they don’t know enough and lack access to vaccines.

How can we say a society is strong if women’s health isn’t valued? How can a society get better if half the people are dealing with sicknesses?

Policies/ Government Programmes

The Government of India has recognised the importance of women’s health and started several schemes to support women at different stages of life:

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): Promotes institutional delivery, reducing infant and maternal deaths by providing monetary support to poor pregnant women.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): A maternity benefit scheme encouraging proper nutrition and care for mothers.

Women Helpline Number 181: A 24×7 service providing immediate help to women in distress.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY): Improves families’ financial condition to secure a better future for girl children.

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan: Provides free antenatal care to pregnant women on the 9th of every month.

Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY): Aims to improve nutrition, health, and developmental outcomes of adolescent girls.

These initiatives show commitment to reducing maternal deaths, infant deaths, and improving women’s nutrition. But a big gap remains between policy and practice, and many women do not know how to access these benefits.

The Need for Awareness

Having policies is not enough for real change—awareness must be built at all levels. In our society, many women’s health issues are cloaked in silence and stigma. Topics like menstruation, reproductive health, mental health, and domestic violence are rarely discussed. This silence prevents women from seeking help, limits knowledge, and worsens outcomes.

The need for awareness is just as important as rolling out policies. Families, schools, communities, and media must normalize conversations around women’s health. Women should understand their rights, schemes, and basic health practices. Men and boys should also be part of the conversation, providing support instead of shame.

Awareness campaigns, advocacy groups, and digital platforms can counter stigma. Until society accepts women’s health as a public concern, policies will only do so much.

Valuing women’s health is valuing the future.

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