On May 28, we observe the International Day of Action for Women’s Health, a critical moment to reaffirm our collective commitment to defending the health rights of women, girls, and marginalized groups worldwide. In 2025, under the powerful theme “In Solidarity We Resist: Our Fight, Our Right!”, this day calls for unity and resistance against escalating threats to women’s bodily autonomy.

Women’s health is not just a women’s issue. It is a societal issue with far-reaching consequences for economic development, education, and intergenerational well-being. When women are healthy and empowered to make informed decisions about their bodies, families are healthier, communities are stronger, and societies thrive.

In South Africa, where inequality persists across all sectors, the health of women, particularly those in low-income communities, is disproportionately impacted. Women carry the burden of chronic disease, limited access to quality healthcare, and high rates of gender-based violence (GBV), all of which are symptoms of broader structural inequalities.

One critical and often overlooked aspect of this picture is nutrition. Poor nutrition fuels many of the chronic diseases affecting South African women today, including diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome, conditions that are largely preventable and manageable through lifestyle change. Access to affordable, nutrient-dense food and the right nutritional education is not just a personal matter, it is a matter of social justice. When women are equipped with the knowledge and means to nourish themselves and their families, the ripple effects are profound: healthier pregnancies, improved child development, enhanced productivity, and stronger, more resilient communities.

At The Noakes Foundation, we believe that empowering women with evidence-based nutritional guidance is a foundational step toward transforming health outcomes for generations to come.

Despite constitutional guarantees of access to healthcare for all, the lived reality for many women tells a different story. Systemic inequality and poverty continue to limit access to:

• Contraception and family planning services
  Nearly 1 in 5 women in South Africa report unmet needs for contraception (Jonas et al., 2022). Access to quality family planning allows women to plan their futures, pursue education, and reduce maternal and infant mortality. 
• Safe and legal abortion
  Although abortion is legal under South Africa’s Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (1996), stigma, misinformation, and poor service delivery mean that many women, especially in rural areas, still resort to unsafe procedures. 
• Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE)
  While the Department of Basic Education includes CSE in the Life Orientation curriculum, implementation is inconsistent, and many learners do not receive the full scope of age-appropriate, evidence-based education needed to make informed decisions (UNESCO, 2018). 
• Maternal and menstrual health care
  South Africa has a maternal mortality rate of approximately 113 deaths per 100,000 live births (Stats SA, 2021), disproportionately affecting Black women in underserved regions. Period poverty is also rampant: up to 30% of girls miss school during menstruation due to a lack of access to sanitary products (UNICEF South Africa, 2022). 
• Protection from gender-based violence (GBV)
  South Africa has one of the highest rates of GBV in the world. Women’s health cannot be secured without tackling the trauma, physical injuries, and long-term mental health consequences that result from violence (WHO, 2021).

Nutrition is foundational to health and well-being, yet it remains a deeply neglected aspect of women’s healthcare. Poor dietary intake among South African women, exacerbated by food insecurity and lack of nutritional education, has led to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). According to the South African Demographic and Health Survey (2016), 68% of women aged 15 and older are overweight or obese, a reflection of both structural poverty and a food environment dominated by ultra-processed, nutrient-poor foods.

Efforts by organisations such as Eat Better South Africa have demonstrated that culturally sensitive, community-based nutritional education can empower women with the knowledge and tools needed to make healthier choices, even in low-resource settings. Yet, these initiatives require government support, funding, and systemic integration into public health policies to enable their optimal scale and reach.

This year’s theme emphasizes solidarity as a force for change. We must stand united in resisting policies and practices that undermine women’s right to health. This means:

• Demanding accountability from governments to uphold the rights enshrined in the South African Constitution. 
• Advocating for policies that prioritise equitable access to healthcare, especially for rural and marginalised women. 
• Supporting grassroots movements and organisations working on the frontlines of women’s health and nutrition. 
• Calling for the integration of gender-responsive budgeting to ensure that women’s health services are funded adequately and sustainably.
  

The fight for women’s health is a fight for justice, for equity, and for a better world. As we mark this International Day of Action for Women’s Health, let us honour the voices of women everywhere, especially those who are often unheard. Let us reaffirm that healthcare is a human right, and any failure to protect women’s bodily autonomy is a violation of that right.

By centering women’s health in our policies, education systems, and public discourse, we move closer to a South Africa where all women can live with dignity, autonomy, and health.

References

Jonas K, Lombard C, et al. Participation in an HIV prevention intervention and access to and use of contraceptives among young women: a cross-sectional analysis in six South African districts. Contraception, Volume 116, 51 – 58, 2022

UNESCO. (2018). International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000260770
Statistics South Africa. (2021). Maternal Mortality Report. http://www.statssa.gov.za
UNICEF South Africa. (2022). Menstrual Hygiene Management. https://www.unicef.org/southafrica
WHO. (2021). Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates. https://www.who.int
South Africa Demographic and Health Survey. (2016). National Department of Health. https://www.samrc.ac.za/sites/default/files/attachments/2022-08/SADHS2016.pdf
World Health Organization. (2022). Women’s health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/women-s-health