Women’s health is not a single conversation.
It changes across every stage of life, from reproductive health and pregnancy to menopause, cancer prevention and mental wellbeing. Yet many of the challenges affecting women continue to receive insufficient attention.
That is the conversation the Women’s Health Matters Conference 2026 aims to change.
Sponsored by Discovery Health and supported by SPAR Group, the inaugural conference will take place on Thursday, 3 September 2026, at GIBS Business School in Johannesburg. The full-day programme will bring together between 200 and 250 stakeholders from healthcare, business, academia, government, civil society and the workplace to examine some of the most pressing health issues facing women in South Africa.
More importantly, the conference aims to move beyond simply raising awareness.
Its focus is on identifying practical actions that can help transform healthcare systems, workplaces, communities and public policy.
Looking at women’s health across the life course
The conference will open with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani, Chief Clinical Officer at Discovery Health, who will deliver an address titled Women’s Health Through the Life Course.
Her presentation will highlight the role of data-driven insights, prevention, early intervention and equitable access to care in improving health outcomes for women throughout their lives.
Dr Nematswerani says supporting women’s health requires a coordinated approach involving healthcare systems, employers and communities.
“Supporting women’s health requires a life-course approach,” she says.
According to Dr Nematswerani, better outcomes depend on health promotion, disease prevention, early intervention and timely access to appropriate care, while also recognising the changing needs and challenges women experience throughout their lives.
Discovery Health is supporting the conference as headline sponsor, providing a platform for different sectors to come together around action-oriented solutions.
From period poverty to menopause
The programme will tackle a wide range of issues that affect women, including several areas that often receive less attention.
Period poverty will be one of the key discussions.
SPAR will place a special focus on the issue through a session led by Mpudi Maubane, National PR, Communications and Sponsorship Manager at SPAR, titled Period Poverty: Dignity Should Not Depend on Income.
The session will examine how the inability to access menstrual products can affect school attendance, workplace participation, confidence and future opportunities.
But the conversation will not stop at products.
A panel discussion, From Products to Policy: What It Will Take to End Period Poverty, will explore how business, government, educational institutions and community organisations can work together on sustainable, long-term solutions.
The conference will also examine endometriosis, with discussions focused on the diagnosis gap and the consequences of delayed diagnosis, including chronic pain, fertility challenges, treatment outcomes and participation in the workplace.
Another important conversation will centre on menopause and the workplace.
The Menopause-Ready Workplace will explore manager education, employee support, healthcare benefits and practical workplace interventions designed to better support women during menopause.
Healthcare challenges that cannot be ignored
Pregnancy and maternity care will also receive significant attention.
Pregnancy and Birth in South Africa will examine high-risk pregnancies, preventable complications, informed decision-making and respectful maternity care.
The programme will further address the women’s cancer care gap, covering screening, early diagnosis, access to treatment and survivorship. The discussion will also consider the role employers and healthcare funders can play in improving outcomes.
Mental wellbeing is another key part of the programme, reinforcing the conference’s broader focus on women’s health throughout the life course.
Gender-based violence is also a health crisis
The conference will directly address the health consequences of gender-based violence through a session titled GBV Is a Women’s Health Crisis.
The discussion will examine the physical and mental health consequences of gender-based violence, while highlighting the importance of survivor-centred healthcare, support services and prevention strategies.
It places GBV within a broader healthcare conversation — recognising the need for coordinated responses that support women affected by violence.
Bringing experts into one room
The programme features contributions from leading experts and advocates in women’s health.
Among those taking part are clinical psychologist and founder of the CBT group Dr Colinda Linde; obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Sumayya Ebrahim; menstrual health activist Candice Chirwa; reproductive medicine specialist Prof Zozo Nene; menopause researcher and practitioner Dr Nicole Jaff; Tiko Co-CEO Benoit Renard; and Dr Kagiso Seripe, Head of Oncology Risk Management and Care Coordination at Discovery Health.
Their participation reflects the conference’s multidisciplinary approach to women’s health, bringing different areas of expertise into one conversation.
Turning conversation into action
Perhaps the most important part of the conference will come towards the end of the day.
The closing session, From Awareness to Action, will focus on practical commitments and collaborative actions that healthcare providers, employers, policymakers and communities can take forward after the conference.
That focus gives the event a purpose beyond a single day.
The Women’s Health Matters Conference 2026 is positioning women’s health not simply as a healthcare issue, but as a matter that intersects with workplaces, education, communities, public policy and everyday life.
The message is clear: conversations about women’s health need to lead somewhere.
And on 3 September in Johannesburg, those conversations will take centre stage.
Event Details
Event: Women’s Health Matters Conference 2026
Date: Thursday, 3 September 2026
Registration: 08:30
Conference: 09:00–17:00
Venue: GIBS Business School, Johannesburg
Headline Sponsor: Discovery Health
Support: SPAR Group
Discovery Health’s registered wellness providers will also be on-site from 08:00 to 19:00, offering attending delegates and guests a complimentary Wellness Health Screening Experience.
The screening will include glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure and BMI checks, giving delegates an opportunity to gain insights into their health and wellness during the event.
For tickets, interested attendees can email James@creativespacemedia.co.za.
