Your Health Unlocked Episodes
043: Public Health and the Environmental Harms of Extractive Capitalism with Kelley Dennings
April 12, 2024
---
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
This statement can be attributed to Denise Hyater-Lindenmuth, Executive Director of the National Women’s Health Network. Contact Director of Communications Adele Scheiber at [email protected] or by phone at 631 – 538 – 6348 for comments and questions.
As a leading advocate for women’s health, we recognize the pivotal importance of this initiative in addressing the stark disparities in funding and attention that currently plague the landscape of women’s health research.
The National Women’s Health Network commends the Biden administration and Dr. Jill Biden for their unwavering dedication to advancing women’s health with the launch of the groundbreaking White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research. As a leading advocate for women’s health, we recognize the pivotal importance of this initiative in addressing the stark disparities in funding and attention that currently plague the landscape of women’s health research.
It is an unfortunate reality that, despite comprising 51% of the U.S. population, women’s health research initiatives receive a mere 10% of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) total budget. This glaring discrepancy not only undermines the well-being of half the population but perpetuates a systemic neglect of crucial health issues affecting women, such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and cervical cancer. The burdens of diseases like these that disproportionately impact women, compounded by the even greater toll borne by women of color, demand urgent attention.
Equally troubling is the fact that the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH), which is currently tasked with championing the cause of women’s health within the NIH, operates under limited capacity due to insufficient funding. This financial constraint hinders the office’s ability to carry out comprehensive research, address pressing health concerns, and implement effective strategies to promote women’s well-being.
The NWHN looks forward to actively engaging with the Biden administration, Dr. Jill Biden, and the Office of Research on Women’s Health in this transformative endeavor. Together, we can usher in a new era of equity, innovation, and progress in women’s health.
#####
The National Women’s Health Network, a 501c3 not for profit, represents the health interests of women across the life continuum with an intersectional focus on sexual and reproductive health, maternal health and the health and well-being of aging women. We work to improve women’s health outcomes through state and federal advocacy, consumer health education, and grassroots technical assistance initiatives. For more information about or programs, services and initiatives visit www.nwhn.org.
