Voice of British Muslim Women

Dr Sarah Waseem, London

The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is Inspire Inclusion. (https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Theme)

One of the most important ways this can happen is by helping women and girls make informed decisions about their health. Global health statistics for women make for grim reading. Life expectancy for women across the world varies, with the lowest expectancy in Chad, where the average woman can expect to live up to 55 years, according to the UN. In the UK, the average life expectancy is 84 for women and 80 for men.

According to WHO “The latest global figures show that around half a million women die from cervical cancer and half a million from breast cancer each year. The vast majority of these deaths occur in low and middle income countries” Ten top issues for women’s health (who.int)

In 2020 one woman died every 2 minutes from preventable causes related to pregnancy – the equivalent of 800 women dying daily, a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 223 maternal deaths per 100 000 livebirths. The highest numbers are found in Chad, Nigeria and South Sudan, where in 2020 MMR exceeded 1000 deaths per 100,000 live births –countries high levels of deprivation.

The UK is not immune from disgraceful levels of maternal mortality, given its relative affluence. According to MBRRACE-UK in 2019-21, 11.7 women per 100,000 died during or up to 6 weeks after pregnancy . Asian women were 1.8 times more likely to die than white women and the figure rose to 3.8 times higher for Black women compared to white women. (https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/mbrrace-uk)

Women are also more likely than men to suffer with anxiety, and depression. Suicide is a leading cause of death for women under 60. Ten top issues for women’s health (who.int)

Worrying statistics indeed! So how do we inspire change? In my opinion, the best way is for women to work to educate, advocate and empower for other women. Those in positions of leadership and authority need to use their influence to help their disempowered sisters, through education and delivering health care.

That desire to educate and support is embedded in the work of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s Lajna Imaillah (Women’s organisation) which is run by women for women. For over 100 years, they have not only provided religious but also secular training to members.

According to Lajna constitution, every branch should have a secretary for Health and Fitness whose role it is to educate other women on maintaining better health. Many have now added mental health to the work that they do. In local classes, women are given information about health issues and local health initiatives. Women are actively encouraged to take care of their health.

Let’s take a look at the Lajna Ima’illah Constitution: (i)

Secretary (Physical Health) shall organise her work mainly in the following two areas:

a) To provide the members with necessary information about hygiene, healthcare and first aid.

b) To promote participation of members in various games and sports as well as exercise programmes. Where possible she shall make arrangements for holding competitions of individual games and tournaments.

It shall be the responsibility of Secretary (for Physical Health) from time to time, to arrange for talks…on the subject of the rules of maintaining good health.

At the last UK national meeting of Ahmadi women from around the UK, (2023), a breast cancer surgeon set up a clinic to offer women free advice on how to perform breast exams. The Ahmadiyya Women’s Research Organisation also serves to update members on the latest advances in various areas of knowledge including health.

To celebrate 100 years since the establishment of Lajna Ima’illah, the UK Lajna pledged to build a new maternity hospital in Sierra Leone, a West African country with one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world. For every 100,000 live births, 1360 mothers die due to complications during or after childbirth.

Why do Ahmadi women do this? Because they are directed by their faith to serve God and mankind. Every day is International Women’s Day for members of this community whose motto is ‘Love for all, hatred for none’.

i Lajna Ima’illah Constitution 2024 Edition