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