Through improvements in women's health, governments can make significant contributions to economic and social development. Investments in women's health are beneficial in their own right. They lead to healthier children, improved household and community welfare, lower health care costs, and greater productivity. The education of girls and women, child support, housing and primary health care for women, as well as their children, must become important priorities for policy-makers. This principle has not been sufficiently applied to women and their health needs.
Gender inequality is an epidemiological fact.
Public health intervention must aim to redress this imbalance. A woman must have the right to sexual and reproductive choice. A woman's right to control her own sexuality and fertility must be recognized and accorded the status of a fundamental human right. Legislation on reproductive rights should be consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and protect women's rights to sexual and reproductive choice. Life-span health Approaches to women's health must be based on the WHO definition of health, which encompasses physical, social and mental wellbeing.