Helen Clark receives inaugural Women’s Health Rights Award

Helen Clark was honoured as the first recipient of the Women’s Health Rights Award at the 121st Woman’s Suffrage event held in Auckland tonight.The award acknowledges the considerable impact Ms Clark has made to the lives of women and children in Aotearoa.The event also celebrated 30 years of Women’s Health Action Trust’s work in New Zealand.The organisation’s director, Julie Radford-Poupard says the bi-annual award acknowledges and celebrates an individual or group’s significant contribution to women’s health in Aotearoa New Zealand.“We are thrilled to inaugurate this award tonight, on the eve of Women’s Health Action’s 30th anniversary and especially pleased that Helen Clark is the recipient.“Ms Clark has done tremendous work to progress the health of women both here and around the world. ”Ms Clark responded to the honour via pre-recorded video saying she was proud to be the first recipient of the Women’s Health Rights Award. Ms Clark’ full acceptance speech can be viewed below.“I remember as a young Minister of Health back in 1989 and 1990 setting up the National Cervical Screening Programme following the recommendations of the Cartwright Commission after the findings of the so called ‘Unfortunate Experiment’.“The Record of Women’s Health Action in New Zealand shows how vital the role of civil society is in holding health professionals, health services and governments to account,” says Ms Clark.The Suffrage Event’s key note speaker was Dame Margaret Sparrow who spoke about Ettie Rout – one of Zealand’s earliest and most controversial sexual health pioneers.Ettie Rout made a significant contribution to the sexual health of New Zealand and Australian soldiers during and after World War 1.Ms Radford-Poupard says “it’s fitting as we commemorate WW1 and 121 years of Suffrage on the eve of our own elections, that we acknowledge women’s contributions that has often been invisibilised”.The 121st Suffrage celebration will be held on 19th September at the Gus Fisher Gallery 6-7.30pm.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, INTERVIEW AND PHOTO/FILMING OPPORTUNITIES PLEASE CONTACT: Julie Radford-Poupard – 021 989 745, julie@womens-health.org.nz, wha.localHelen Clark’s acceptance speech:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUfcYbATLX8