Letters | Why better eyesight is often a man’s right: the need to tackle the gender gap in health care

Women are more likely to go blind or have impaired vision, and yet have poorer access to health care, with devastating effects on their ability to earn and care for their families

Governments, civil society organisations and the community must join hands to correct this

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An elderly woman gets her eyes tested for free in Mumbai, India. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:00am, 7 Mar 2020Updated: 8:00am, 7 Mar 2020

Why do women tend to have poorer access to health care than men? In some societies, women are prevented from leaving their homes unaccompanied to seek medical attention. Also, being examined by male doctors can be forbidden. In developing countries, women earn less than men and those in poverty are particularly vulnerable, as they might forgo treatment to prioritise other needs.

The gender gap in developing countries exists even in areas of health that you might not associate with gender disparity, such as eye health.

Women comprise more than half of the world’s blind. They are 1.3 times more likely to go blind or become vision impaired than men. Being blind means that women are confined to their homes and unable to contribute to household incomes. Being unable to effectively look after their families and children also means that a woman’s perceived worth is diminished.

Restoring sight to women restores their sense of worth, their ability to generate income and to care for their families, enabling them to build a more secure future.

The Fred Hollows Foundation develops programmes that specifically target the barriers faced by women in accessing eye health care.

In Pakistan and Bangladesh, we work with local hospitals to train health workers who deliver maternal and child health services in eye care. With women more likely to visit maternal and child health clinics, the training allows workers to find women and children in need and refer them to local specialist services easily.

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.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Why better eyesight is often a man’s right: the need to tackle the gender gap in health care

Letters | Why better eyesight is often a man’s right: the need to tackle the gender gap in health care