OPINION: Women encouraged to put health first

In an opinion piece to mark Te Wiki Hauora Wāhine/Women’s Health Week HPF’s Communications Advisor Lavinia Kavu Ngatoko reflects on the need for women to prioritise their health and wellbeing

As a working mum I know only too well how stressful it can be to juggle many hats.

Although my two children are now in their 20s, they still live with me, and I still cook and clean, as well as work.  Working virtually has helped, and I certainly don’t miss the grind of the daily commute into the city, and back home.

When the kids were growing up, I’d fret over their health and ensure they went to the doctors when they were sick. I didn’t pay as much attention to my own health, and as a chronic asthmatic, I should have. When I got sick, I got really sick and ended up in hospital a few times because I’d let my asthma get too bad.

(Pictured right: Lavinia with her children, Lavinia and Arron)

That’s why Te Wiki Hauora Wāhine/Women’s Health Week which runs from Aug 11 to 17 is so important.

Dedicated to empowering all wāhine to prioritise their health and wellbeing, we’re encouraged this week to reflect on the health challenges women continue to face in Aotearoa and to share knowledge, have brave conversations, prioritise our health and focus on preventative & proactive hauora.

Spearheaded by digi-physical healthcare provider Tend, this week will see events across the motu, from workshops in Marton to free cervical screening in Ōtautahi, all designed to encourage New Zealand wāhine to prioritise their health.

"For too long, women have put everyone else first, their whānau, their work, their communities," says Cecilia Robinson, Co-CEO of Tend. "This week is their permission slip to put themselves at the centre of their own health story."

Dame Valerie Adams shared her powerful story about the importance of prioritising women's health at an exclusive panel event at SkyCity yesterday (Aug 11).

"My own mum left us too soon because she didn't make her health a priority," said Dame Valerie whose mother passed away from cervical cancer at just 39 years old.

"It's a story I carry with me every day. This week, it is our wāhine’s time to shine. I want them to have the conversations, ask the questions and seek the care they deserve.”

Minister for Women Nicola Grigg who is championing the event said as “a first-time mum juggling a busy travel schedule while working and caring for our son, I can now see how many women neglect their health needs because they’ve simply run out of hours in the week.

‘I don't want any woman to put looking after their health and wellbeing at the bottom of the to-do list."

The Selwyn Foundation, led by CEO Denise Cosgrove, is highlighting the unique health challenges and broader wellbeing issues facing older women.

Single older women in particular can often face other difficulties that impact their overall health and make them more vulnerable – social isolation, housing insecurity, financial stress, and limited access to support.

I would say I fall into that category. Sometimes financially strapped, and with few close family members in Auckland, I have been facing some health issues of late, such as hypertension and pre-diabetes. (on top of the asthma!) So, it was a wake-up call, and some lifestyle changes had to be made, and I have given up added sugar and am eating much healthier. I also take long walks every day, weather permitting of course!

We are also fortunate that our workplace, HPF, is so supportive and we are always encouraged to prioritise our health and wellbeing. Working virtually eases the pain of having to battle the Auckland traffic every day, saves on gas and helps the environment.  It also means I can stay home with my much-loved fur-baby Coco. We’re also encouraged to take a break for walks and we’re given a wellbeing budget each year to spend on stuff that benefits our wellbeing such as walking shoes, exercise clothing and gear and even spectacles.

This week reminds us that health isn't just about medical care – it's about addressing the “social determinants that impact wellbeing throughout a woman's life”.

Click HERE more about the week, incl an A-Z of women's health, stories & resources and to find a women’s health event.