THE hiost basic human right Is the right to health. However. women suffer from more ill-health aAd are more vulnerable to certain diseases than men. This may be attributed to the fact that women are . biologically and physiologically different from men. In addition, women are subject to gender differences which have consequences on their health status.

Socially, we live behind masks of gender.that make ft . easy for us to relate to each Other through our immediate recognition of specific roles we have designed for the purpose of social communication. Depending on the code of

communication developed by a specific gender in a given culture living can be facilitated for one group and complicated with painful consequences for the other. In the world today, unfortunately, not a single day goes by without evidence of the pr'ecarlous position of woipen as tljey. struggle for iheir survival.

-Based on the statistics pub lished by the World Health Organization, of the 150-200 ififlllon pregnancies each year about 23 million involve serious complications and half, million result; In death. Unwanted pregnancies force 20 million women to seek tin

, safe abortions every year Many

die and 15 million survive with long-term disabilities. Poverty, draught, famine and civil war has distorted communities, dispersed families and contributed to the Increase in prostitution. In one country 50-75000 street children survive through prostitution, with ail the health consequences this entails. ' -

Every minute of each day. two -women become Infected by HIV. and every 2 minutes a woman dies tram AIDS. By the year 2000. women will account for 50 per cent of all HIV infections.

Violence against women Is reaching alarming propdrtlons world wide and has given rise to stress, mental disorders paralysis and suicide.

Young girt# are increasingly used as a source of cheap la bor performing tasks in an environment fraught with health risks.

Gender based dlscrtmlna tion in feeding patterns In early life has been detected in numerous developing countries contributing to protein energy malnutrition, anemia and other micronutrient deft < lenefea In young girts which affect not only their own Ilves but also future generations

Studies show a feminization of poverty in the developing

A malnourished child with his mother who has a cataract in her eye — better nutrition the Critical factor for a nation's health - Courtesy BDF countries perpetuating the prerexisteht inequality' of the sexes and consequently affect Ing the health of the female population disadvantaged as they are tn access to food, ed-ucation. and health services.

It Is estimated that 75 per cent of the world's eighteen million refugees are women and girts. Most of them are ex posed to poor nutrition and Illness, and many of them to violence. Including rape

Based on the strove the past 20 years have been marked by resolutions, declarations and conventions In support of women. In September 1995 the Forth World Conference on Women will be held In Beijing. Chins, and a platform for ac lion will be adopted there The Belling conference can be seen as an Important market to wards which efforts should be directed particularly at na tlorral level to ensure that gov ernments and non govern men tai organisations adequately address women • health issue* Let us hope that it will be so