Caring for women's health shouldn't just be an option, but a societal priority. There are diseases and conditions that affect us exclusively and that, often, can be prevented with proper care . Regardless of our age or ^where we live, we have the right to enjoy optimal health .

In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that the health of women and girls is a cause for special concern. The reason? In many societies, we continue to be disadvantaged by discrimination rooted in sociocultural factors that prevent us from achieving the best possible level of health, whether due to unequal power relations between men and women; social norms that reduce our opportunities for education and paid employment; women's reproductive roles; or the physical, sexual, and emotional violence to which we are exposed. ²

We often put ourselves last. We think first about the well-being of others and forget that we also need care. A clear example: we make sure the children have all their vaccinations up to date, but we forget that we also need to protect ourselves. ³

Vaccines are indeed key for us. The WHO states that immunization plays a fundamental role in reducing maternal and infant mortality. Furthermore, it is a powerful catalyst for gender equality and the eradication of diseases, since by protecting us, it contributes to our empowerment and active participation in society. ⁴

 And speaking of threats to our health, cancer takes on greater importance, as it is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. ^Worryingly , according to a report by the American Cancer Society released earlier ^this year, this disease is affecting more women than men. While cases in men are declining, diagnoses in young women are on the rise.

 Another issue that society often normalizes, but which is a true torment, is migraine. It remains a significant public health problem, a disorder that is especially common and bothersome for women .^⁷ We are three times more likely to suffer from migraines than men, and, moreover, one in four women will experience this condition in her lifetime.^⁸

Migraine is no small matter; it is the most common neurological disorder and ^, in fact, the seventh leading cause of disability worldwide. ^Specifically , approximately 157 million workdays are lost each year due to migraine.

In conclusion, it is urgent to close the health gaps that affect women. Not only to live longer, but to live better, with physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It's time to put our health where it deserves: at the center!

By: Lucila Mouro, Senior Business Leader in the Pharmaceutical Industry

References:  

1.      International Days. International Day of Action for Women's Health. Available at: https://www.diainternacionalde.com/ficha/dia-internacional-salud-mujeres Last accessed May 2025.

2.      World Health Organization. Women's Health. Available at: https://www.who.int/health-topics/women-s-health Last accessed May 2025.

3.      National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. The Importance of Vaccination for Women of All Ages. Available at: https://es.nfid.org/the-importance-of-vaccination-for-women-of-all-ages/ Last accessed May 2025.

4.      Fifarma. Impact of Vaccination on Economic and Social Well-being. Available at: https://fifarma.org/impacto-de-la-vacunacion-en-el-bienestar-economico-y-social/ Last accessed May 2025.

5.      Colombian Safety Council. Work and cancer. Prevention and coping measures for the disease in the workplace. Available at: https://ccs.org.co/portfolio/trabajo-y-cancer-medidas-de-prevencion-y-afrontamiento-de-la-enfermedad-en-el-entorno-laboral/ Last accessed May 2025.

6.      American Cancer Society. Study: Cancer rates are rising among women; activists urge Arizona legislators to support the fight against cancer. Available at: https://www.fightcancer.org/es/releases/estudio-aumentan-las-tasas-de-c%C3%A1ncer-entre-las-mujeres-activistas-instan-legisladores-de Last accessed May 2025.

7.      Burch, R., Rizzoli, P., & Loder, E. (2018). Prevalence and impact of migraine and severe headache in the United States: Figures and trends from government health studies. Headache, 58(4), 496–505. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/head.13281 . Accessed May 2025.

8.      University of Miami Health System. Migraine. Available at: https://umiamihealth.org/es/tratamientos-y-servicios/neurolog%C3%ADa/migraine . Last accessed June 2025.

9.      Duke Department of Neurology. Neurology and Women's Health: Migraines. Available at: https://neurology.duke.edu/news/neurology-and-womens-health-migraines . Last accessed May 2025.

10.    South Florida Baptist Health. Migraines are often debilitating, but new treatments offer hope. Available at: https://baptisthealth.net/es/baptist-health-news/migraines-are-often-debilitating-but-new-treatments-offer-hope-for-sufferers Last accessed May 2025.