Health Care
&
The Busy
Professional
Presented byDr. Safa El Baz
In the 21st century, millions of us wake
to the gush of adrenaline that follows
the annoying bleat of our clock-radios…
From that moment far into the night,
we are racing to meet our commitments
at work and at home…
Experts say, the burden and
health hazards of those commitments
tend to fall twice as heavily on the
shoulders of women as they do on
men.
The 2 important questions that
should be asked now are….
1. What are those hazards?
2. What to do about limiting
their effect?
Common Health Problems
Stress-related illness.
Reproductive disorders.
Musculoskeletal disorders.
Cardiac & respiratory diseases.
Neurological disorders.
Infectious diseases.
Cancer.
Reference will be made here to
Stress and
Reproductive health disorders
Has emerged as an important
hazard in the contemporary workplace.
It has been associated with a range
of emotional & physical ailments,
including coronary artery disease and
myocardial infarction.
Stress
Why are women more vulnerable
to stress?
Women have traditionally been the
caretakers in society, as well as multi-
taskers, who try to be everything to
everyone. This is a precursor to a lot of
negative emotions; frustration, anger,
sadness, and not surprisingly… a chronic
sense of exhaustion.
Stress symptoms:
Headache
Insomnia
Anxiety
Fatigue
Panic attacks
Skin, gastrointestinal & muscular
disorders.
Why is stress on the rise?
Workplace culture & practices today increase
the pressure to do more work with less
resources…
Work overload.
Long hours away from home.
Job insecurity.
Conflicts & harassment.
Improper work environment.
Poor management practices.
Underpayment.
Job related factors:
Reproductive Disorders
We know that some workplace hazards
can affect a woman’s reproductive health, her
ability to get pregnant, or the health of her
unborn children.
What are those disorders?
Menstrual cycle effects.
Infertility & subfertility.
Miscarriage & stillbirths.
Birth defects.
Low birth weight & premature birth
Developmental disorders.
Childhood cancer.
How do they happen?
Harmful substances can enter a
woman’s body through:
Ingestion
Radiation
Inhalation
Contact with skin
What can WE do?
Encourage professional women to:
Protect their own health & well being, and
seek professional help if they feel they need it.
Identify work practices that result in health
problems in their work.
Discuss how to change with their colleagues
and managers.
How should we go about it?
Professional women should:
Know their rights and fight for them, by
participating in health education, training,
and monitoring programs.
Follow employer's safety and health work
practices and procedures.
Eat healthy and balanced food.
Take real breaks from work & learn ways
to relax.
Communicate clearly, by addressing
boundaries, expectations and needs.
Avoid contact with hazardous substances,
and avoid bringing contaminated clothing or
other objects home.
What can Authorities do?
Labor law
National Council for Women
(NCW)
Labor Law And Women’s Health in Egypt
Women are entitled to unpaid childcare
leave with a maximum of two years, for 3
times during their employed career.
Employers are responsible for providing
health insurance for the employee.
Women have the right to maternity
leave for 3 months after delivery,
for 3 times in their employed
career.
It is not permissible to fire an employed
woman during the first 45 days after
delivery.
It is not permissible to fire an employed
woman or terminate her contract during
the delivery period.
Informing employees of the job risks
before joining the work and enforcing the
use of adequate protection methods by
providing the appropriate guidance.
Special agencies regularly inspect
workplaces to ensure occupational health
safety and work environment.
(NCW)National Council for Women
In recognition of the critical role played by
women at all levels of social and national
development, the Government of Egypt
established the National Council for Women
in 2000, which aims at the advancement of
women, improving their health and
facilitating their full participation in the
society.
NCW also advocates for the mainstreaming of
women’s rights and concerns in all governmental
strategic planning.
The health committee of the NCW coordinates with
different ministries & organizations concerning
women’s health. It was actively involved in amending
the Labor Law of 2003 to address women’s health
needs, especially reproductive health hazards.
Remaining Challenges
Most activities have so far been targeted at women employed in the formal sector, which represents 69% of working women.
The remaining 31% of women working in the informal sector need adequate attention and assistance to address the health hazards they face in their professional careers.
Professional women today face a
multitude of complex challenges,
which must be addressed through
comprehensive institutional
strategies as well as targeted
individual solutions.
Recommendations
Assisting employed women as a multi-tasker
provider and provide the appropriate, and
affordable health services.
Follow-up on law implementation specially
women's rights in work, social insurance ,
health insurance, political rights, and
punishment laws.
Emphasize women’s work values and their
economic participation in the national
economy.
Necessitate periodic medical examination.
Recommendations