Health for women: challenge for all

Abstract

Noting that the campaign to promote the health of all women during the United Nations' (UN) Decade of Women (1975-85) had only brought about limited progress, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched its own campaign to further promote women's health. In its 38th World Health Assembly held in 1985, WHO called upon its member states to show greater support for protecting women's physical and mental health, particularly women's nutrition and the health of pregnant women. Equally important, the assembly called for the involvement of women as decision-makers in health and socioeconomic development activities (WHO, 1985a).As a result of the UN's Decade of Women campaign and WHO's declaration, women's health issues received increased attention.Other relevant issues on women also received much-needed public attention. Yet today, many women are still disadvantaged. They still suffer from poor health resulting from malnutrition, genital mutilation, risks related to childbearing, and other health problems unique to women. This poor health is especially true for millions who are illiterate, poor, overworked, and underprivileged (Maho-