News & Views

Black Maternal Health Week (11th–17th) takes centre stage as a powerful campaign to raise awareness, champion for equity, and celebrate the voices and leadership of Black women. The Black Mamas Matter Alliance, the organisation behind Black Maternal Health Week, works to advance black maternal health by leading efforts in policy advocacy, conducting research, and fostering strong communities. This week is not only a movement, but a vital reminder of compounding racial inequalities that persist, especially in maternity care. For London, where Black women make up a larger proportion of the population compared to other parts of the UK, the relevance of this week is particularly pronounced.

April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness, supporting survivors, and promoting conversations around consent, safety, and access to care. This year, 7th April serves as a key action day, an opportunity for individuals, communities, and services across London to come together, show support, and take meaningful steps toward change.

The Global Day of Action to destigmatise abortion stands as a necessary and urgent response to entrenched myths, discriminatory policies, and persistent barriers. It is a rallying cry to dismantle harmful narratives and demand safe, stigma-free abortion access everywhere. While anti-abortion rhetoric gains traction globally, this day is a firm declaration: every person deserves autonomy over their body and unhindered access to abortion care. Destigmatisation is not only about removing shame, it is about affirming rights, dignity, and compassion in every corner of the globe.

When Jacqueline John talks about finance, she doesn’t start with spreadsheets. She starts with impact. 

“I’ve been an accountant for over 40 years,” she says, “but what I’ve always enjoyed most is working with service leads and clinicians to help them understand their budgets so they can make the right decisions.” 

This week marks Endometriosis Awareness Week, an opportunity to raise awareness of a condition that affects millions of people but is still widely misunderstood. Endometriosis is a long-term and often painful condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body, commonly around the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvis. Despite how common it is, many people still struggle to get a diagnosis, treatment, or even to have their symptoms taken seriously.

This month is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a good opportunity for professionals in sexual health, public health and across local government and the NHS to reflect on how we identify, prevent and respond to abuse in young people’s relationships.

On Valentine’s Day we are often overwhelmed with pictures of hearts, roses, and couples’ dinners.  Great if you’re in a good healthy relationship, but irritating or worse if you’re not.  Not everyone enjoys the celebration, not everyone gets a card. For many, it can be a day that highlights singleness or even loneliness. And there is nothing wrong with that.  But whether you’re in a relationship, dating casually, or happily single, Valentine’s Day is a powerful reminder to show yourself some love.

Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) is fundamental to our overall health, wellbeing and autonomy. Yet access to high quality, respectful and timely SRH services is not experienced equally by everyone. On Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day, it’s vital that we shine a light not only on the importance of SRH, but on the inequalities that continue to shape people’s experiences – and what we can do to address them.

The 6th February marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).  This is a day to focus attention on one of the most persistent violations of girls’ and women’s rights. Established by the UN General Assembly in 2012, this day a call to action, investment and accountability across sectors. 

The 2023 abortion statistics paint a clear picture of reproductive health in London and I am struck by both the scale of need and the stark inequalities behind the numbers. London recorded 51,810 abortions in 2023, more than any other region, reflecting not just population size but the deep social and economic pressures shaping reproductive decision making across the city. 

We are delighted to welcome Janet Barter to the London Sexual Health Programme, where she has joined as Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinical Lead. With more than three decades of experience across women’s health, Janet brings deep clinical expertise, system-wide insight, and a strong commitment to collaboration and equity in sexual and reproductive healthcare.

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month.

In the UK alone, more than 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. While it can affect people of all ages, cervical cancer is also one of the most preventable cancers, and it could be the very first cancer to be eliminated globally.