Call for urgent reforms to uphold women's health rights
They detail that dismissed menstrual pain, barriers to contraception, and delayed cancer diagnoses are just some of the silent battles that many women are fighting daily.
Dr Moratwe Masima, a Johannesburg-based medical doctor and fervent advocate for women's health, has made it her mission to fight against these injustices.
'I see it every day. Women suffering in silence. Women normalising pain. Women who've been told to be strong for so long they forget they're allowed to ask for help.'
Masima's commitment to women's health mirrors the sentiments echoed by Justine Lacy, Clinical Executive at Profmed, who calls for a radical rethinking of priorities concerning women's healthcare.
On this day of global action, the focus is squarely on the unmet health needs of women and girls, especially in terms of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
It is revealed that in South Africa, countless women still lack access to essential healthcare services, from basic contraception to cancer screenings and mental health support, despite protections enshrined in the constitution. The global theme resonates with urgency: 'Our voices, our actions, our demand: Uphold women's health and rights now.'
Masima further highlights that women's reproductive health should not be viewed as a luxury but as a fundamental human right. 'When women can't access safe contraception, face delays in abortions, or have their menstrual pain dismissed, we're denying them dignity and choice,' she asserts.
It is stated that the statistics are stark; South Africa's maternal mortality rate remains alarmingly high, reflecting systemic issues in the healthcare system.
Moreover, many women are still unable to access quality mental healthcare, and taboos surrounding infertility, postpartum depression, and menopause continue to silence women in their most vulnerable moments.
Masima also believes in addressing the complete health spectrum of women, stating, 'We need to talk about the whole woman. These are not separate issues; they're deeply connected.'
Masima underscores the importance of prevention, noting that delaying a check-up can lead to severe health consequences and even more costly treatment in the long-run.
Lacy asserts that medical cover must evolve to meet the comprehensive needs of women's health, spanning from adolescence through menopause.
'Women's health journeys don't begin and end with pregnancy,' she emphasises.
She says a comprehensive medical aid cover should include annual check-ups, contraception, fertility support, mental health services, and menopause-related care, whilst ensuring that women can access benefits without facing unnecessary barriers.
Lacy notes that often women are unsure about their coverage or are apprehensive about out-of-pocket costs, creating additional hurdles to proper care. Profmed is committed to improving benefit designs that readily reflect the lived realities of women.
'Women are navigating their health while building careers and raising families. We take that seriously,' she explains, highlighting the importance of tailored care that evolves with women's needs.
However, Lacy calls for collective responsibility from the broader healthcare industry, urging all sectors to genuinely listen to the challenges women articulate. 'If we want to offer real support, we have to design benefits that reflect women's real lives,' she stresses.
Saturday Star
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mail & Guardian
4 days ago
- Mail & Guardian
Therapy alone won't resolve men's mental health problems caused by socio-economic stressors
Graphic: John McCann/M&G While Mental Health Awareness Month (May) and Men's Mental Health Month (June) have ended, the conversation about mental health must not. In a country where mental health issues are becoming an epidemic, sustained dialogue is essential. Men are often underrepresented in mental health statistics, not because they face fewer problems, but because they are less likely to seek help. When they do respond to mental distress, it is often in extreme ways such as substance abuse, isolation or suicide. In South Africa, socio-economic stressors are primary causes of mental health crises especially for black men and people of colour. As such, socio-economic interventions should be prioritised, with therapy serving as a complementary, not primary, solution. This perspective may seem controversial, but we are not against therapy; we encourage people to use it. Where trauma that has no economic aetiology therapy should be the first line of action. We make the above very clear here and an exception. When poverty, unemployment and financial stress are the root causes of mental health deterioration, especially in the context of high unemployment, the solution must begin with economic rehabilitation, job creation, social investment and poverty alleviation. In their book Although their study focuses on hip-hop in Western contexts, the parallels to South Africa in terms of financial meltdown are undeniable. The majority of the artists discussed in the book were men, and common themes included financial hardship and limited opportunities. The authors found that those facing economic insecurity reported higher levels of hopelessness, anxiety and depression, often precursors to suicide. The same pattern is visible among South African men. Africa has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The South Africa ranks among the top 10 countries globally with the highest suicide rates. In 2019, the country recorded 13,774 suicide deaths, 10,861 of them men. In 2021, the suicide rate rose to 18%, highlighting the urgency of addressing the root causes behind these figures. An article published in the by a psychologist, Given the above, the next step is to advise these men to seek help through therapy. But context matters. Considering the state of the economy in the country, the economic lens should be the first lens we need to observe the state of men's mental health. First, a single therapy session costs Second, gaps in public healthcare do not allow effective therapy sessions, because they are overwhelmed and under-resourced. South Africa has only Third, despite having one of Africa's most advanced healthcare systems, South Africa lacks a Fourth, therapy is still seen as foreign and unfamiliar by many men. Asking them to expose emotional vulnerabilities to a stranger, without addressing their material struggles, often feels not only impractical but also alienating. Men, often expected to be family providers, are at breaking point given their inability to provide for their families. They migrate to urban areas in the hope of financial upliftment, only to be met with limited opportunities and high expectations from family back home. This drives them towards depression and anxiety. We cannot use therapy alone to solve mental health problems. Therapy is necessary but it cannot resolve the country's lagging economy and unemployment. There is a necessity for urgent and massive economic reforms to address this crisis. The mental health crisis among South African men is not only a psychological issue; it's also a socio-economic one. Therapy can support healing but there must be broader structural change: job creation, economic investment, and sustainable livelihoods. By reframing the conversation around men's mental health to include economic justice, we will move closer to real solutions. Until then, we risk treating symptoms while ignoring the disease. Edmund Terem Ugar is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Philosophy, University of Johannesburg. Zimasa Klaas is the head of human resources at Opti-Num Solutions. The opinions expressed in this article do not represent the views of their employers.
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Trump says Coca-Cola agreed to use real cane sugar in US
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday Coca-Cola had agreed to use cane sugar in its beverages in the US after his discussions with the company. "I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using real cane sugar in Coke in the US, and they have agreed to do so. I'd like to thank all those in authority at Coca-Cola," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. A spokesperson for Coca-Cola said the Atlanta-based company will share details on new offerings soon and it appreciates Trump's enthusiasm for its product. Coca-Cola produced for the US market is typically sweetened with corn syrup,while the company uses cane sugar in some other countries. The Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, named for the social movement aligned with health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jnr, has pushed food companies to alter their formulations to remove ingredients such as artificial dyes. Kennedy has also been critical of the amount of sugar consumed in the American diet and said updated dietary guidelines released this summer will advise Americans to eat "whole food". A May report by the MAHA commission, a panel convened by Trump and tasked with identifying the root causes of chronic disease, said substantial consumption of high-fructose corn syrup could play a role in childhood obesity and other conditions. Medical experts recommend limiting added sugar in diets, but have not identified significant differences between cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.
The South African
5 days ago
- The South African
Survey finds low - or no
A report by medical aid provider Profmed reveals that while healthcare professionals acknowledge the high cost of private healthcare in South Africa, the vast majority fear that the newly implemented National Health Insurance (NHI) will worsen, rather than improve, the quality of healthcare delivery. The 2025 State of Health Report, based on responses from approximately 1 800 medical professionals, found that 70% of participants are satisfied with the general standard of healthcare – largely due to private sector performance – but 75% have no confidence that the NHI will enhance the system. Profmed CEO Craig Comrie said the high cost of medical aid schemes was highlighted as a major concern, with suggestions that making medical aid mandatory for all formally employed South Africans could reduce costs by up to 30%. However, respondents were also clear that price regulation and broader access must be accompanied by better governance and public sector improvements. Further findings revealed that 60% of respondents had no trust in the public healthcare system, citing understaffing, poor infrastructure, and a lack of accountability. Despite the concerns, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi reaffirmed during his budget vote last week that the government is proceeding with NHI implementation. He said significant funds are being allocated to upgrade public health infrastructure to meet NHI standards. While the government insists that NHI will ensure universal, equitable healthcare access, many healthcare professionals believe that meaningful reform must be coupled with better oversight, financial transparency, and public-private cooperation to be effective. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
