Two Oldham good cause leaders have expressed their horror at new
national figures showing that the amount of time Brits spend in good
health has declined by around two years.
Dr Anita Sharma and Maria Williams, respective bosses at Endometriosis
Awareness North and CROWN, are also mortified that the schism between
wellbeing in rich and poor areas is widening – particularly for women.
The Healthy Life Expectancy Report has seen Britain slump to second
bottom in a table of the 21 most successful economies in the world.
Health Inequalities are a problem Oldham is only too aware of with
overall life expectancy in the Alexandra ward trailing that in
Saddleworth South by a full 13 years.
And in their dealings with communities, both Dr Sharma and Maria have
noticed a health decline caused by increased poverty, dwindling public
services and a dis-interest from decision-makers.
“Upturn who run the CROWN initiative visits some of our borough’s
neediest neighbourhoods in our campervan, Hope” revealed Maria. “In
some cases people are struggling to afford basic nutritious food, find
it hard to register with a GP, and are struggling with mental health
issues associated with debt and unemployment.”
Women’s business network The CROWN has organised a series of events
especially designed to tackle issues such as the menopause and chronic
anxiety which so constrict women when it comes to finding work and
progressing their careers. “Women are hampered more than men by health
issues and yet the treatment they receive is so much poorer” she
added.
This is a cause- célèbre for Dr Sharma who has lectured everyone from
parliamentarians to junior doctors on the need to prioritise female
health and reduce the gaps in care between rich and poor. “Misogyny
and a lack of compassion is now affecting how long people live” said
the GP and author. “Take COVID for example, which ravaged the BAME
community and those in poorer areas more. And indeed endometriosis,
which affects one in ten women and yet little resource has been devoted
to curing it or reducing the painful ten-year-wait women have for a
diagnosis. If it was males in rich neighbourhoods who were being
blighted, you could bet it would be very different.”
Both Maria and Dr Sharma welcomed the Government’s Women’s Health
Strategy in 2022 but jointly agreed that, “the time for talking is
over. We need to prioritise women’s health and the wellbeing of those
in poorer areas NOW. Otherwise it will continue to cost people’s
lives.”
To learn more about Endometriosis Awareness North, go to
https://endometriosisawarenessnorth.com/
The next meeting of the CROWN – Creating Remarkable Opportunities for
Women Network – takes place Wednesday 20 May at the Spindles Shopping
Centre in Oldham. Entrance is free, but you must reserve your place by
visiting
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