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Women’s economic
activity rate in many countries of the Region is extremely
low compared to that of men. Poverty places a double burden
on women, as it makes women more vulnerable to disease while
being less capable of obtaining health care when it is
needed. Throughout the Region, the adult literacy rate and
gross primary school enrolment ratios for males are higher
than for females. Women’s lack of education leads to a
dramatic decrease in social and economic opportunities,
compared to men, with a consequent deterioration in health.
Gender is a fact—a network
of roles, rights and obligations of males and females as
they carry out their daily lives as parents, spouses and
employees. The biological dispositions of males and females
and their societal roles can result in greater vulnerability
and thus in unhealthy outcomes.
The gender in health and
development initiative aims to identify areas of
vulnerability and develop interventions to address them.
There is growing impetus for countries in the Region to
address areas of gender vulnerability and to increase
investment in resources capitalizing on women’s potential as
active and vital partners in sustaining development in
communities.
Gender in
health and
development activities are taking place in all countries of
the Region. The Regional Office promotes and expands women’s
vocational training centres around the Region in order to
promote women’s capacity-building in the community through
literacy, vocational and life-skills training, health
skills and health education training, and women’s
empowerment training.
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