Harnessing Data to Leave No One Uncounted in Asia’s Health Revolution
Thirty years ago, maternal mortality rates were often based on rough estimates, leaving policymakers with limited insights into the realities faced by women across Asia. Today, advancements in data collection and technology allow for more accurate measurements of women’s access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. This progress has enabled us to better understand reductions in maternal mortality, the uptake of contraception, and strides toward gender equality.
Initiatives like former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s call for a “data revolution” have spurred countries to invest in robust data systems. These systems are crucial for tracking and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to health and well-being. While increased data availability highlights the progress made, it also exposes the persistent gaps in access to sexual and reproductive healthcare and rights.
Consider Amina, a 28-year-old woman living in a remote village in Southeast Asia. Pregnant with her third child, she faced a long, arduous journey to the nearest clinic. Without skilled birth attendants in her village, emergency obstetric care was a distant hope. Amina’s story is not unique; countless women across Asia and the Pacific face similar challenges.
These inequalities are widening not only between countries but also within them. Health systems often grapple with gender inequality and biases rooted in displacement and ethnic discrimination. Indigenous women like Amina are less likely to receive antenatal care, more likely to give birth as teenagers, and face a higher risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes.
This situation raises critical questions: Are we collecting the data needed to truly accelerate progress? Who is still going uncounted and unaccounted for?
Data is not just about numbers; it’s about the stories of people’s lives. It provides invaluable insights into the health and well-being of individuals and communities. High-quality data collection and analysis help identify service gaps, understand barriers to access, and develop targeted interventions for those often left behind, including women, girls, indigenous populations, people with disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ community, and older persons.
To ensure that no one is left uncounted, it’s imperative that governments, organizations, and communities work collaboratively to improve data systems. By doing so, we can better address inequalities, allocate resources effectively, and create policies that truly reflect the needs of all individuals.
As Asia continues to develop economically and socially, harnessing the power of data will be essential in achieving equitable healthcare access for everyone. Only then can we ensure that stories like Amina’s become a thing of the past, replaced by narratives of empowerment and equality.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
