The rights of women and the right to health are a fundamental issue for the Institute of Security and Social Services for Workers (ISSSTE), the achievements that mark the fight for equality in Mexico respond to the efforts of society and the government to institutionalize the requests of women, therefore, the ISSSTE strengthens preventive care programs focused on women throughout the month of March, through the campaign “March, Month of Women’s Health”, declared Ramiro López Elizalde, Health Policy Director of the institute.
Within the framework of the commemoration of International Women’s Day, López Elizalde emphasized that this day should not be seen as a celebration but as a commitment by all in favor of equality and respect for women. “Even today, there are women who have to ask permission to work, to visit friends or relatives, and in terms of health, there are women who have to ask permission to use a contraceptive method, to have a mammogram, or they are not allowed to go to the gynecologist if she is not accompanied, there are women who cannot decide how many children they want to have, this has to change”.
The ISSSTE serves a population of 7,546,197 female beneficiaries, according to data from the Institute’s 2020 Statistical Yearbook. Breast cancer represents the first cause of death among women who suffer from some type of cancer, while cervical cancer is the tenth most frequent neoplasm in the world population and the fourth most frequent among women, this type of disease is treatable and preventable with timely detection and leading a healthy life; the importance of carrying out studies annually is essential to safeguard life.
The campaign, whose motto is “I am a woman and I take care of myself”, invites women entitled to ISSSTE to undergo screening for the timely detection of breast cancer, cervical cancer and oral health, also through the Community Health Teams “ECOS for well-being” can also access consultation and information on topics such as reproductive health, breastfeeding, nutrition, physical activation and mental health, these activities will be carried out in the first level of care units nationwide.
Finally, the ISSSTE urged the beneficiaries not to postpone their medical check-ups, and not to overlook any discomfort, emphasizing that the way to avoid a disease or the complication of a disease is prevention.
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