General Information

 

What is Echo’s mission?
Greater health for women through leadership, productive partnerships and research-based action.

What is Echo’s vision?
Improved health and well-being and reduced health inequities for Ontario women.

What is Echo’s mandate?
Echo’s mandate is to be the focal point and catalyst for women’s health at the provincial level. Echo promotes equity and improved health for women by working in collaborative partnerships with the health system, communities, researchers and policy-makers.

What are Echo’s values?
Echo’s core values are equity, diversity and inclusiveness. These values were derived based on the following observations:

  • Equity – There are a number of health conditions unique to women such as cervical cancer, uterine cancer, and pregnancy and its potential complications. Certain conditions affect women more than men, such as autoimmune diseases, eating disorders, breast cancer, and disorders related to mental health, such as depression. Many conditions are more serious in women, including heart disease, osteoporosis and HIV/AIDS. Yet until recently, these differences have largely been ignored and women’s specific health needs have received less attention and care.
  • Diversity – There is an increasing gap in health status among women from diverse backgrounds. Special attention should be given to women with lower incomes and education, as well as to First Nations, Métis and Inuit women. Health inequities are similarly compounded by race, immigrant or Aboriginal status, disability and sexual orientation.
  • Inclusiveness – In acknowledgement of the previous two values, Echo must engage in activities to identify, consider and understand women’s diverse realities. Echo must ensure that this diversity is considered in all endeavors, in order to promote equity.