Women's Healthcare in Hesse: A Drive Towards Balanced Wellbeing 🌍
Ensuring Equal Health Access for Women: The Hesse Approach - Hessen intends to achieve gender equality in health care provisions.
It's no secret—women in our society often face health disadvantages. That's why the Hessian state parliament is stepping up to change the game. "Navigating life as a woman is a health minefield," stated Nadine Gersberg (SPD) during a state parliament discussion in Wiesbaden.
In a noble bid to withstand this health minefield, the ruling CDU and SPD factions have submitted a motion to enhance the health and wellbeing of women in Hesse. Emphasizing prevention, promotion, and care, this motions seeks to level the playing field once and for all.
Many illnesses and conditions prevalent among women are frequently overlooked, even dismissed. "Conditions such as endometriosis are often trivialized, but the symptoms they bring can be quite excruciating," pointed out Health Minister Diana Stolz (CDU). Endometriosis, a chronic condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causes symptoms such as severe pain, digestive concerns, and irregular bleeding (as per the German Endometriosis Association).
Looking ahead, more education and awareness about conditions like endometriosis, lipoedema, and osteoporosis – conditions that primarily impact women – will be paramount. Stolz also mentioned an article in the "Tagesspiegel" stating that smaller, easily preventable gynecological diseases in women aged 15-49 collectively cause a larger burden than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV combined. Yet, they receive merely 1% of global research funding.
Vaccination and prevention 💉
Stolz also drew attention to the necessity of increased HPV vaccinations. "Many folks don't know that this vaccination can shield against cervical cancer and other cancers," she stressed. To achieve this goal, the Hessian Child and Youth Health Centre will reach out to children in the future.
At the Hessian Child and Youth Health Centre, adolescents aged 12-14 will be identified for their vaccination status and made aware of the HPV vaccination. Vaccination significantly reduces the risk of infection.
Promoting professionals 👩⚕️
The state parliament also debated the importance of backing midwives who help young mothers. Health Minister Stolz highlighted that Hesse is investing specifically in the training of these professionals. By the end of the year, over 400 specialists have already been trained.
In addition, universities in Gießen, Frankfurt, and Marburg have developed programs to ensure that future doctors gain a deeper understanding of the unique healthcare demands of women. Going forward, gender medicine will be a compulsory subject in medical studies and healthcare professions. First-aid courses, for example, will include female practice dummies, and diseases in clinics will be destigmatized.
Support for pregnant women 👰
Unique support for pregnant women is on the horizon, covering pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. "At last, maternal protection after a miscarriage will come into effect on June 1st," Stolz reminded us. Nationwide, pregnant women who experience a miscarriage will legally be entitled to a recovery period from the 13th week of pregnancy.
In addition, the availability of abortion services in Hesse should be improved and provided consistently. Controversy arose over this point, with the AfD faction criticizing the relevant paragraph in the motion, proposing rewording. "We must not insinuate that women can casually abort their babies moving forward," stated AfD member Sandra Weegels.
- To further bolster the health and wellness of women in Hesse, the ruling CDU and SPD factions propose a community policy that incorporates vocational training programs specifically dedicated to women's health conditions, such as endometriosis, lipoedema, and osteoporosis.
- In the realm of science, it's crucial to prioritize research on smaller, easily preventable gynecological diseases that disproportionately affect women aged 15-49, as they collectively cause a larger burden than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV combined, yet receive merely 1% of global research funding.
