WUNRN
HelpAge International - A Global
Movement for the Rights of Older People
Bangladesh
- Older Women & Widows
By Shegufta Sharmin - 23 June 2014
International Widows' Day is observed to address the poverty and injustice faced by widows and their children around the world.
When I think of the hardships that widows, in particular older widows face,
I am instantly reminded of a conference I attended on ageing and women in
Women mostly from
One in four women widowed or divorced by age 50
It had never occurred to me that a female member of my family could be abandoned
just because she is older or a widow. That does not mean though that older
widowed women in
The historic 2001 census data shows that 91% of older women were widowed or separated compared with only 9% of older man. As well as dealing with widowhood, many older widows face poverty, poor health and abuse.
Generally, widowed women are more dependent on family and face worse socio-economic conditions than men. Fewer than 1 million women receive widow allowance of 300 taka (US$4) per month.
Because of the sometimes temporary nature of their living arrangements they are missed by the development agencies as well.
A little help can change older women's lives
HelpAge's work proves that a little help can change the lives of older
women. Sabita (pictured above) is 62 and a widow from the coastal
Now the son’s business is doing well and he was able to help Sabita recover her land, which she had had to rent. Sabita now grows vegetable on the land and has gained respect as an active member of her extended family.
Poor healthcare hampers older women as they age
Poor healthcare services are still one of the most significant problems for
older people in developing countries. The number of hospital beds per 10,000
people is only 4 in
The general government expenditure on healthcare was only 7.9% of total
government spending and people have to pay for their healthcare bills out of
their own pockets.
Consequences of poor reproductive healthcare hamper older women during old age as well. Of every 10,000 married women, about 17 suffer from fistulas; an abnormal connection between the lower portion of the large intestine and the vagina. This often occurs from an injury during childbirth and can cause serious infections.
A significant number of women living with fistulas in
With our Affiliate, the Bangladesh Women's Health Coalition (BWHC), we provide health support services to older women and widows. A voucher worth 300 taka (US$4) per month and homecare from health workers can change lives and enable women to look after their grandchildren.
Older women suffer abuse and neglect
An unpublished study from HelpAge with
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