Dan Andrews Instagram – This week our new Women’s Health Council met for the first time.
It’ll mean women’s voices are better listened to when it comes to their healthcare.
But rather than me tell you about it, I thought I’d ask Kat:
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Endo is a disease with no cure.
One in nine women will have endo, making it as common as asthma or diabetes.
But unlike asthma and diabetes it was rarely talked about until recently, comes with stigma and a long diagnosis delay.
For me the delay was 17 years.
17 years of missed work. 17 years of missed uni. 17 years of missed travel, relationships and opportunities. 17 years of lots of pain and heartache. And 17 years of seeking medical help and not once being believed or heard.
My story is not unique. Hundreds of thousands of Victorians will have a similar story.
We need to do better.
We need to listen to women.
The new Women’s Health Council is a group of powerhouse women, and we know we stand on the shoulders of giants.
Women who for years used their voices, but weren’t heard. Women who suffered in silence. And who have worked hard to make it better.
The Council exists to listen to all those who haven’t been seen, believed or heard.
We’ll amplify the voices of the half of our population who have been under-researched, under-diagnosed and under-represented.
And we’ll help ensure that every Victorian woman receives the medical care that they need – and that it’s safe, affordable and culturally appropriate.
The next generation of women are going to have a completely different experience to mine – and that’s exciting.
Kat Stanley
Member of Victoria’s Women’s Health Advisory Council | Posted on 07/Sep/2023 13:18:52
