Healthy Women, Children and Youth Secretariat

Overall, girls and women in British Columbia experience good health, but there continues to be sources of disease and illness that affect the quality of life of girls and women in ways specific to their gender and life circumstances.ⁱ

Women in BC have made social, economic, and political gains in many areas, however further opportunities for advancement exist. Building on existing initiatives, and exploring new opportunities to advance the full potential for women requires partnerships with other levels of government, ministries, health authorities and other non-government agencies and organizations to coordinate and unify policy pertaining to women's issues within the population.

Childhood through adolescence is a time when fundamental life changes occur - cognitive, emotional, physical changes, and changes in social relationships. These changes provide an opportunity to promote lifelong health behaviours.