Working for Change

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HealthWiki > Where Women Have No Doctor > Chapter 3: The Medical System > Working for Change

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In this chapter:

 

In this chapter:

Millions of people throughout the world suffer and die from illnesses that could have been prevented or treated if they had access to good medical care. And even where health services do exist, there are many barriers that keep poor people, especially women, from using them.

Working together with health workers, we can organize to change the medical system. We can make it a resource—rather than a barrier—for solving health problems. The medical system will not change on its own, though. It will change only when people demand it, when we develop creative ways to bring better quality health care directly to the people who need it most.

A good place to begin changing the medical system is by discussing with others the health care problems that affect people in your community—including lack of access to good care.

I live very far away. If there were a health worker close by, it would save my family the 2 weeks' wages I spend every time I have to come.

I wish they didn't run out of family planning supplies. I got pregnant last year because the clinic ran out, and I can't afford to buy a lot all at once when they do have them.

These city doctors look down on us. I would feel better if people from the village helped run the clinic.

I wish they could give us Pap tests here. I've heard they are important, but I can't afford to go to the city.

I want there to be separate rooms where we could be examined without everyone listening.

I don't like having a man examine me. I wish there were women health workers.

I would like the clinic to be open in the evenings after I have finished my work.

This clinic doesn’t really know or care about the problems young people most worry about. They should ask us!

There is always such a long wait. If someone asked right away what each person needed, then the really sick people could be treated sooner.

We can also work together to:

• help every member of the community learn about health problems that need more attention. For example, you can organize a campaign to explain the benefits of good prenatal care in pregnancy. Help everyone learn which exams and what kinds of care are most important, and encourage people to use the services that already exist. The more people use existing services, the easier it is to demand services not yet available, such as better screening and treatment for cervical and breast cancer.

You can find more ideas and examples about changing health systems in the chapters: “Taking Action for Women’s Health” and “Communities Organize for Women’s Health,” in Hesperian’s book, Health Actions for Women: Practical strategies to mobilize for change.

• improve existing health resources. For example, if there are already community midwives, how can they get training in new skills?
• make health care available in new ways. Think about the health services you want, not just what you have now. So, if there is no health worker now, how can one be trained and supported? If there is already a clinic, could it offer new services like workshops or counseling?
• find ways people can share their own experience and knowledge about health care, for example, by discussing together all the “health work” people already do in the community. It is usually women who care for the sick, teach children ways to stay healthy, prepare food, keep the home and community clean and safe, and help deliver the babies. Through this work, they have learned many skills that they can share and use to care for each other and every member of the community

This page was updated:13 Nov 2023