Story: Health advocacy and self-help
Page 2 – Women’s and men’s health organisations
Women’s Health Action
Feminist activists Phillida Bunkle and Sandra Coney started a health advocacy group called Fertility Action (FA) in 1984. For many years they had tried to get the injection-based contraceptive Depo-Provera banned. They argued that women using it experienced serious and unacceptable side-effects.
After FA was formed the group turned its attention to an IUD (inter-uterine device) contraceptive called the Dalkon Shield. Women who used it – in particular those who had never been pregnant – were at high risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease, a condition associated with infertility. FA lobbied the Department of Health, and the contraceptive was eventually withdrawn from use.
From 1986 FA campaigned on a wider range of women’s health issues, including cervical-cancer screening, hormone replacement therapy, cosmetic surgery and improved access to medical records.
The group and its founders are best known for a 1987 Metro magazine article about the treatment of cervical cancer patients at National Women’s Hospital in Auckland, which led to a commission of inquiry, overseen by Judge Silvia Cartwright. FA has played a major role in drawing out wider issues, such as the lack of institutional protection for patients.
In 1993 FA changed its name to Women’s Health Action to better reflect its range of activities. In the 2000s the organisation produced health information, ran an information line and supported health consumers’ rights. It lobbied health officials and advocated institutional changes to the health system.
Women’s Health Information Centre
The Women’s Health Information Centre in Christchurch provides free health information and services to women. It was started as The Health Alternatives for Women (THAW) in 1980 to promote safe contraceptives, support the establishment of Lyndhurst Hospital (which provides abortion services) and lobby for improved patient rights. Its name was changed to the Women’s Health Information Centre in 1999.
A good bollocking
In 2008 a Wellington street called Old Bullock Road was mistakenly signposted by the city council as ‛Old Bollock Road’ – bollocks being a colloquial word for testicles. The signpost was donated for fundraising purposes to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand, who sold it on Trade Me, the online auction website, for $805.
Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand
The Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand was founded to provide support and information services for men diagnosed with prostate cancer, and educate the wider community about the disease. There are 16 support groups throughout New Zealand.
