The Pan American Health Organization
Promoting Health in the Americas

 Safe Hospitals
Gender, Ethnicity & Health — Violence against Women - Health Policies - GenSalud Information System - Gender Mainstreaming


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Agenda

PAHO Press Release

Fact Sheet
Women's Unremuerated Labour in Health

Article from La Nación (Argentina)
"En salud, no se valora el aporte femenino"

Article from AnsaLatina.com
"Mujeres, paladines en cuidado de la salud"




International Women's Day 2004
Health Care in the Home: Invisible Work

March 8th 2004
Washington, D.C.

The UN began observing IWD on March 8th 1975, calling upon States to contribute to the creation of conditions for the elimination of discrimination against women and for their full and equal participation in social development. This year, we focus on women's invisible and unpaid contribution to the development of health in our Region, and we call for recognition of this contribution in national health accounts, and health sector policies.


Summary

Modern health systems are able to operate because women are willing to shoulder the burden of care for their partners, family members, friends and communities.

Women have historically been responsible for the care of sick and disabled family members as an extension of their domestic roles. Over recent years however, a number of factors have combined to increase women's burden of unpaid health work; including an ageing population, an increase in the incidence of diseases that require long-term care, and an increasing reliance from the health sector on ambulatory care and out-patient services. This is happening at a time when the entry of women into the workforce means a decrease in the numbers of available unpaid health workers.

Presentations


Coordinated by:
The Gender and Health Unit - PAHO
Email: hdw@paho.org