When her health comes first
Women are remarkable multitaskers. We manage careers, nurture families, chase dreams, carry emotional weight, and shoulder responsibilities often with strength and grace that go unseen. But even the strongest among us can be brought to a halt by an illness.Conditions like breast cancer and other women-specific health challenges don’t wait for a convenient time. They come without warning and impact far more than just our physical health. They shake our confidence, disrupt our finances, and affect our ability to care for those who rely on us most.
While we often plan for life’s major milestones (getting married, having children, buying a home), very few of us plan for the possibility of a health crisis. But the truth is, medical bills, time away from work, and the emotional toll of a diagnosis can derail even the most carefully laid plans.
That’s why it’s critical to have financial protection that’s designed with women in mind, by people who understand what we go through. Because our experiences are unique, (from fertility struggles and pregnancy complications to gender-specific cancers), women face health risks that deserve tailored solutions.
Thankfully, there are options available that provide once-off lump-sum payments when serious illness strikes. These benefits are not tied to your employer and are designed to be there when you need them most. The payout amount depends on the severity of your condition, but the goal is always the same: to offer financial breathing space so you can focus on what matters: healing.
Some of these solutions even allow you to include your children, offering extra peace of mind to mothers who want to protect their families no matter what life throws at them.
Planning for your health doesn’t mean you’re expecting the worst, it means you’re giving yourself the freedom to heal on your terms, without added financial stress. It means acknowledging that your well-being matters, even when you're used to putting others first.
Let this be the season we move beyond pink ribbons and awareness campaigns. Let’s offer real, practical support for the health journeys women may one day face. Because when a woman is empowered to protect her health and her future, everyone in her world benefits.
* Adele Prinsloo is the Regional Manager: Personal Finance at Old Mutual Namibia.