Authors: Tanvi Puri, PhD Candidate, University of British Columbia & Bonnie Lee, PhD Candidate, University of British Columbia/CAMH | Editor: Romina Garcia de leon (blog coordinator)
Published: May 28th, 2024
The International Day of Action for Women is celebrated annually on May 28, and is dedicated to raising awareness of and advocating for women’s health and rights. This day was first observed in 1987, and aims to advocate for women’s reproductive rights, highlight healthcare disparities faced by women, raise awareness about gender-based violence, and promote sexual health and rights.
One of our key missions at the WHRC is to advocate for the improvement of women+’s health research and policy. Members of the WHRC have dedicated their time and expertise to advocating for women’s health by testifying before the Canadian Parliament (more details linked below). Several Cluster members were invited by the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Health to appear as part of a panel of witnesses in view of its study of women’s health, with a focus on mental health. Dr. Liisa Galea highlighted the importance of recognizing the importance of studying female-specific factors affecting health, and recognizing sex differences in medical research to ensure tailored and effective healthcare treatments. Dr. Catriona Hippman called for increased awareness and access to genetic screening and counseling services, particularly for individuals with a family history or disease risk. Dr. Tina Montreuil spoke about the urgent need to increase support and resources for perinatal mental health services, and the significant impact of mood disorders and anxiety during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Their testimonies emphasize the breadth and urgency of critical issues facing women’s health. You can view the meeting details and video recordings here for April 11 (Dr. Liisa Galea) and here April 8 (Drs. Catriona Hippman and Tina Montreuil).
One of our Senior Cluster Leads, Dr. Liisa Galea, and Cluster members Dr. Laura Gravelsins and Tallinn Splinter, also submitted a policy brief to the House of Commons highlighting the chronic underfunding and undervaluation of women’s health research on behalf of the WHRC and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. They note that although women live longer than men, they do so with more chronic diseases and mental health conditions, and points out that the lack of effective research on women’s health variables leads to delayed diagnoses and suboptimal treatments for women. They call for dedicated funding, specialized peer review committee, and mandatory training in sex and gender-based analysis to bridge the knowledge gap and improve health outcomes for everyone. In addition to advocating for women’s health research to parliament, the WHRC supports and showcases the publication of scientific peer reviewed articles as well as other knowledge mobilization initiatives. A recently published article about the disparity in women’s health research funding can be found here and Dr. Liisa Galea’s op-ed in the Toronto Star can be found here.
Dr. Wendy Norman, another member of the WHRC, has contributed extensively to sexual and reproductive health research and policy. She plays an important role in leading public health initiatives and using evidence-based practices that work to enhance access to contraceptives and abortion, and development of reproductive rights, particularly in underserved and rural communities. Dr. Norman is also involved with the education and training of healthcare providers, and her research findings have informed healthcare practices worldwide. Initiatives like those led by Dr. Norman have informed policy decisions and paved the way for the recent momentous decision for the federal government to make contraceptives free across Canada in 2024.
Small individual actions by community members can snowball and make a significant impact! Here are a few things you could do to make a meaningful contribution to advancing women’s health:
- Advocate for policy change by signing local petitions, writing to your MLA, or vote in support of research funding, improved maternal and fetal healthcare, and increased access to reproductive health services.
- Volunteer to participate in research studies, or share calls that others might be able to participate in that you don’t qualify for.
- Share information about women’s health issues on social media, or participate in community events and awareness campaigns.
- Support and donate to women’s health organizations such as the Women’s Health Research Institute, Planned Parenthood, or local women’s clinics.
There is a desperate need to grow the discipline of women’s health research to overcome the concerning gaps in knowledge that jeopardize women’s health. Please donate today to catalyze women’s health research worldwide. Your gift will support:
- Publications, education and academic opportunities that will enable groundbreaking knowledge translation to help transform women’s health on a global scale
- Vital advocacy efforts to change the policies and practices that are impeding women’s health research