Every August, we pause to honour women for all they carry in our society. But recognition alone is not enough. Real impact is built in the future we make possible. For the women raising families, shaping workplaces and strengthening communities, that future begins with their own health.

 A lasting legacy of health is built through ongoing care, every day. It shows up in the strength to be there for those who depend on us. A mother, a daughter, a colleague, a friend: her health is the quiet foundation behind everything she does and every person she supports. Protect that foundation, and everything else becomes stronger.

This is where awareness must become action. Knowing preventative screening matters is not the same as doing it; it is action that changes outcomes. Screenings such as Pap smears and mammograms are quick, routine and straightforward, yet they are among the most powerful tools for detecting concerns early, when they are most treatable. An hour now can protect decades to come.

For CGMS members, accessing preventative care is made easier because it is already covered from Risk at 100% of the Scheme rate under their medical scheme benefits. Each year, this includes a Pap smear for women over 18, a mammogram for women over 40, and a wellness consultation with a health check covering blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and BMI.

Cover also extends to prevention at an earlier stage, including the HPV vaccine recommended for girls aged 12 to 18. This vaccine is key in protecting against cervical cancer long before it can develop. The benefits are already in place. They simply need to be used.

Staying well is also about small daily habits, the ones that keep chronic conditions in check and appointments from slipping through the cracks. The Universal.one App is designed to make that easier. CGMS members can check what their plan covers, keep their health information in one place, and let the App’s Personal Health Assistant send automatic reminders for chronic medication and follow-ups, so that nothing important is forgotten in the rush of a busy life.

Building a legacy of health does not require grand gestures. It simply requires treating our own wellbeing with the same seriousness we give to everyone else’s. When a woman looks after herself, she is not being selfish – she is protecting the person her family relies on and showing the next generation how to do the same.

This Women’s Month, take a meaningful step. CGMS members are encouraged to open the Universal.one App to plan essential health screenings and set up reminders for chronic medication.