Marking the Importance of Women’s Health
posted on: Monday, May 11, 2009
by Yna C. Moore
I found some pretty sobering numbers on the CDC website:
- 14 percent of women aged 18 years or older are in fair or poor health
- 62 percent of women aged 20 years or older are overweight
- 33 percent of women aged 20 years or older have hypertension
- Heart Disease, diabetes and stroke are among the top causes of death among women, no matter the race.
Doctors and scientists in the biomedical sciences continue their untiring efforts to find the latest cures, technologies, procedures and preventative interventions for the numerous diseases that plague humanity. But no matter how breathtaking a discovery, there continues what seems to be a ginormous wall between science and the sick: that wall is called “access denied.” Sadly, systemic and institutional barriers continues to exist that prevent many from benefiting from the fruits of science. Critical drugs and medical procedures are available only for those who can afford the enormous cost. Many in need do not have health insurance, and even those that do cannot necessarily afford the co-insurance and other out-of-pocket expenses for specialized procedures, medications and other long-term care.
In a Reuters article yesterday, Julie Steenhuysen reported that “seven out of 10 women have no insurance, not enough insurance or are in debt because of medical bills.” She also noted a recent study by researchers from The Commonwealth Fund that found that women are hit harder by rising health costs because “they have lower average incomes and spend more on healthcare than men, and because they use the health system more often than men.”
A series of reports by NCRP titled Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities includes stories of how nonprofit community advocates and organizers are helping to tear down the wall. For example, in North Carolina, a number of local groups provide specialty services for the under- and uninsured, secure additional resources for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment within the state, and create prescription drug assistance programs for lower-income senior citizens. In New Mexico, the study documented efforts to secure state and federal funding for Medicaid and beef up health services for Native Americans. These and other efforts were made possible by foundation grants, which provided the majority of funds for the work in these two sites.
As we mark National Women’s Health Week, we urge foundations to look at bold and innovative ways to help knock down the giant wall and in its place build a bridge between discovery and those who could benefit from the breakthroughs.
Yna C. Moore is communications director at the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP).Labels: Debunking Criteria Myths, Grantmaking for Community Impact Project, National Women's Health Week, Philanthropy at Its Best, targeted universalism, women
I found some pretty sobering numbers on the CDC website:
- 14 percent of women aged 18 years or older are in fair or poor health
- 62 percent of women aged 20 years or older are overweight
- 33 percent of women aged 20 years or older have hypertension
- Heart Disease, diabetes and stroke are among the top causes of death among women, no matter the race.
Doctors and scientists in the biomedical sciences continue their untiring efforts to find the latest cures, technologies, procedures and preventative interventions for the numerous diseases that plague humanity. But no matter how breathtaking a discovery, there continues what seems to be a ginormous wall between science and the sick: that wall is called “access denied.” Sadly, systemic and institutional barriers continues to exist that prevent many from benefiting from the fruits of science. Critical drugs and medical procedures are available only for those who can afford the enormous cost. Many in need do not have health insurance, and even those that do cannot necessarily afford the co-insurance and other out-of-pocket expenses for specialized procedures, medications and other long-term care.
In a Reuters article yesterday, Julie Steenhuysen reported that “seven out of 10 women have no insurance, not enough insurance or are in debt because of medical bills.” She also noted a recent study by researchers from The Commonwealth Fund that found that women are hit harder by rising health costs because “they have lower average incomes and spend more on healthcare than men, and because they use the health system more often than men.”
A series of reports by NCRP titled Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities includes stories of how nonprofit community advocates and organizers are helping to tear down the wall. For example, in North Carolina, a number of local groups provide specialty services for the under- and uninsured, secure additional resources for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment within the state, and create prescription drug assistance programs for lower-income senior citizens. In New Mexico, the study documented efforts to secure state and federal funding for Medicaid and beef up health services for Native Americans. These and other efforts were made possible by foundation grants, which provided the majority of funds for the work in these two sites.
As we mark National Women’s Health Week, we urge foundations to look at bold and innovative ways to help knock down the giant wall and in its place build a bridge between discovery and those who could benefit from the breakthroughs.
Yna C. Moore is communications director at the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP).
Labels: Debunking Criteria Myths, Grantmaking for Community Impact Project, National Women's Health Week, Philanthropy at Its Best, targeted universalism, women
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