A International Women’s Day Message

March 8th is International Women’s Day. In Canadian culture this is a day to celebrate women. But in other parts of the world, women struggle physically and mentally and socially because they don’t have access to critical healthcare.

Did you know that the effects of diseases like leprosy affect women more negatively than men? In some traditional families, a woman’s health is not a priority and healthcare expenses are seen as an unnecessary burden. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of diseases may lead to complications that cause disabilities and disfigurement.

The stigma associated with her appearance may cause rejection from social activities or prevent her from finding a husband. In the worse cases, she may be forced to leave her family home.