Women’s health has long been overlooked.
Beena and Jamna at their family compound in Pakistan.
© Gates Foundation/ Asad Zaidi
Over one billion women and girls worldwide lack access to nutritious diets and essential health services.
From performance health, where only 6% of sports medicine research focuses on women, to maternal health, where only 2% of medical research funding is spent on pregnancy, women’s health is far too often overlooked.
As a result, women across the globe spend 25% more of their lives in poor health than men – that’s 25% less time to pursue passions, 25% less time to realize dreams, and 25% less time to make a mark on the world.
Sapna prepares a meal in Bangladesh.
© Gates Foundation/ Prashant Panjiar
Gaps in women’s health disproportionately impact moms.
For moms, the consequences of the women’s health gap can be life-threatening. Each year, 500,000 women die from preventable, pregnancy-related causes, with 94% of all maternal deaths occurring in low-and-middle income countries.
Prenatal vitamins are a low-cost, high-impact intervention that delivers huge benefits for both mom and baby by filling critical nutrition gaps. Yet nine-in-ten women in low- and middle-income countries lack access to these vital nutritional supplements.
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Throughout my life, tennis has given me a pathway to pursue my dreams, and I know firsthand how important it is to have access to the right healthcare and nutrition.
I am proud to shine a light on women’s health and nutrition in the hopes that all women can reach their full power and potential.
— Caroline Wozniacki
Former WTA World No.1 champion, and mother of two