In celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day, the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR) hosted a critical webinar titled “From Data to Action – Strengthening Women’s Health Rights and Access to Services.”
The Webinar
This thought-provoking discussion delved into the complexities of ensuring women’s and girls’ rights to primary healthcare (PHC), exploring challenges and the urgent need for policy and structural changes.
At the heart of the webinar was the dissemination of ARHR’s recently conducted study, spanning 18 districts across Ghana, which provided a detailed look into the realities of women’s access to healthcare at the household and community levels. The research examined key barriers preventing women from receiving quality PHC, shedding light on systemic challenges within healthcare facilities and local communities. The study also explored the role of women’s agency and leadership in making healthcare decisions, investigating how family and societal power dynamics impact their ability to seek and receive medical care. Additionally, the findings revealed stark gender disparities in healthcare access, particularly for marginalized and economically disadvantaged women. It also raised important questions about the effectiveness of feedback and accountability mechanisms within healthcare services.
Moderated by Dr. Esther Offei-Aboagye, Chairperson of ARHR’s Advisory Board, the webinar brought together a distinguished panel of experts who each offered unique perspectives on gender-responsive PHC. The discussion featured Madam Lamnatu Adams, Executive Director of Songtaba; Madam Mavis Adobea Botchway, Gender Focal Person from the Ministry of Health; and Madam Maribel Akuokor Okine, Western Regional Director of the Department of Gender.
Key Highlights of the Webinar
The Panelists underscored the critical importance of empowering women to actively participate in their healthcare decisions, and advocated for policies that recognize the specific health needs of women and girls while addressing the social and economic barriers they face.
Throughout the discussion, the panelists emphasized the need for urgent action to eliminate the structural obstacles limiting women’s access to healthcare. They explored the influence of family dynamics and societal norms on women’s health-seeking behaviors, highlighting how financial dependence, cultural beliefs, and gender roles often deter women from prioritizing their well-being. The conversation also touched on power imbalances in healthcare access, with the study revealing that many women—particularly in underserved regions—struggle to receive timely and adequate care due to economic constraints, long travel distances to health facilities, and discriminatory practices within the system.
Another key area of focus was the role of accountability in improving healthcare services. The panelists discussed existing community feedback structures meant to hold healthcare providers accountable, questioning their effectiveness and proposing strategies to ensure greater responsiveness to the needs of women and girls. They stressed that gender-responsive policies must go beyond rhetoric and translate into tangible changes in how healthcare services are delivered and accessed.
Call to Action
At the end of the session, a collective call to action emerged, urging policymakers, healthcare professionals, and civil society organizations to take decisive steps toward making primary healthcare inclusive and equitable. The panelists emphasized that without targeted interventions, women—especially those in vulnerable communities—would continue to face disproportionate barriers to healthcare access. The webinar called for strategies to turn data into action and transform healthcare into a space where every woman and girl can exercise their right to quality, accessible services.
ARHR’s Work
ARHR remains committed to driving meaningful change in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, and primary healthcare systems. We will work to ensure women’s health and rights are recognized, protected, and prioritized.
