It is a harsh reality that, in the 21st century, although a woman’s life expectancy at birth in more than 35 countries around the world is in upwards of 80 years, in the African region it is only 54 years according to recent World Health Organisation statistics. In addition, 99 percent of all maternal

deaths that happen each year, almost half a million in total occur in developing countries, many on the African continent, in fact 66 percent of maternal deaths happen in sub-Saharan Africa. There are many reasons for this challenging statistic, not least of which is the prevalence of poverty, combined with such factors as economic dependence amongst women in certain African societies, lack of power and decision-making in the home and in communities, and control over sexual and reproductive lives. Many women in Africa continue to face and experience many different forms of discrimination and marginalization in their day-to-day lives, simply because of their gender. Each of these individual factors have the potential to negatively impact on women’s physical, emotional and intellectual health and wellbeing, not to mention their ability to be able to build economic independence.

This last month, on March 8th, the United Nations marked International Women’s Day, an event designated to not just honour the important role played by women in society, but also to highlight areas of grave concern that require the world to sit up, take notice and importantly take action. This year, the focus of attention was on the Gender Agenda: “Gaining Momentum,” an issue of particular interest and concern to Africa where health challenges such as improving reproductive health, putting an end to gender-based violence and discrimination, addressing the issue of female genital mutilation, and reducing the incidence of maternal deaths are all too prevalent. If the ambitious aspirations of the United Nations in meeting Millennium Development Goals are to be fully realised, then it is essential that more work is done to improve the health and wellbeing of women in Africa, as the two sets of challenges are inextricably linked.

On the African continent, one of the biggest health challenges facing women is the need to improve maternal health. Despite being one of the Millennium Development Goals, it is still chronically short of achieving its targets of reducing the maternal mortality rate by 75 percent before 2015. It is a sad fact that in Africa, if radical health and education interventions are not put in place to address this issue, these ambitious goals will not be realised until at least 2165, such is the severity of the situation. Yet ironically, most maternal deaths are preventable, particularly if the overall health and wellbeing of women is improved. The number of deaths incurred as a result of complications suffered due to the lack of obstetric care services, unsafe abortions, bleeding, high blood pressure and obstructed labour, could be reduced and prevented. This is critical, particularly in the case of teenage mothers on the African continent who experience complications and premature deaths as a result of young bodies having to go through the physical and emotional trauma of childbirth whilst still developing themselves. This prevalent issue that teenage pregnancy raises needs to be at the top of the education agenda in Africa amongst young girls if they are going to be empowered to take control of their bodies, their futures, and critically their health.

The most recent report published by the United Nations on Trends in Maternal Mortality (1990 to 2010) indicates that although sub-Saharan Africa has witnessed a decline in maternal mortality of 41 percent in the past 10 years, the figures are still unacceptable. One in 42 African women still die during childbirth, as opposed to 1 in 2900 in Europe. On the African continent, mothers should expect to be able to stay alive after the birth of their children and to see them grow up to have children of their own, instead of simply hoping that their personal and family ambitions will be realised in this regard. Initiatives such as the Campaign for the Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA), introduced in partnership with the African Union, are already providing much needed support on the ground at grass roots level in Africa to improve maternal health programmes. Yet, at a practical level, we must recognise that more needs to be done to provide improved access to basic health facilities and health workers for women.

On the general health front for women in African countries, things are also bleak. The latest World Health Organisation report “Addressing the Challenges of Women’s Health in Africa,” published to coincide with International Women’s Day in March, highlights that the rate of cervical cancer amongst African women is twice the global average. In addition, the challenge of female genital mutilation is still a major health and societal issue in Africa. It requires vigorous debate and action if the lives of over two million young girls aged between 4 and 12 who are subjected to this brutal practice are to be changed for good. Recognising that many of the health and wellbeing challenges experienced by women in African society occur as a result of socio economic and socio cultural factors and pressures, it is essential to improve women’s empowerment overall. Solutions to positively addressing women’s health and wellbeing can be found by improving literacy levels and overall access to education, improving the economic status of women, and addressing cultural and long-standing traditional challenges in African society that impact negatively on women’s health.

There is no doubt that women living in today’s Africa continue to face an ever increasing number of health and wellbeing challenges and this is tangibly reflected in the unacceptably high levels of female and particularly maternal mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa. Society as a whole needs to rethink its approach to improving women’s health by getting to the heart of the problem and addressing the need to improve the social status of women on the continent, while empowering and supporting them to make the change needed. This empowerment needs to come from education and inclusive participation in all aspects of society and decision-making. This calls for political will, cultural debate, and undoubtedly large-scale investment in sustainable women’s health programmes that can be successfully rolled out across the African continent. The challenging women’s health and wellbeing situation to date has been caused by a failure on the part of key stakeholders and society as a whole to unite and work together to advance the socio-economic standing of women in Africa and, as a result, address the challenge of investing in women’s health and education. Continued failure to find the necessary solutions will increase the vulnerability of women in our society, while at the same time, limit the positive contribution they will be able to make to the socio economic wellbeing of the African continent as a whole. It is time that, as a united people of Africa, we take a stand in addressing the cultural and socio economic factors that are sustaining inequality in advancing women’s health. Policy makers need to come to the table and commit more resources to women and girls’ education, health and maternal wellbeing. Legislation needs to be developed and enforced across the African continent safeguarding the rights of women to control and safeguard their health and wellbeing in the home and in the community. Africa must take a stand to improve the efficiency of health care delivery and access systems for all women and young girls and to take a multidisciplinary approach to addressing the medical, socio-cultural and economic factors that have the potential to adversely affect women’s health and limit their lifespans. It is high time that Africa starts implementing the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa and it’s plan of Action. It is time for Africa to stop needless deaths of it’s women from preventable and potentially treatable causes. The time has come to take a stand. GHD