In Their Words: A Thought Leadership Series on Gender Equity and Global Health Security
The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the inequalities in our global systems, shining a spotlight in particular on gender inequality across sectors. Global health and development experts have made it clear that we cannot recover from COVID-19 and strengthen systems to better respond to future global health threats without addressing gender equity through transformative policies. Discover more from these experts below and join the conversation using #COVID5050 on your platforms.
In His Words: Dr. John Nkengasong
Dr. John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), highlights that the COVID-19 pandemic provides a unique opportunity to create stronger health systems with gender equity at the center.
In Her Words: Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh
Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, World Health Organization South-East Asia Regional Director, discusses the disproportionate impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on women and girls and offers suggestions for how to recover better by putting gender equity at the center of pandemic response and preparedness efforts.
Anuradha Gupta, Deputy CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, describes the importance of gender equity in global health leadership as the world faces vaccine-preventable infectious disease outbreaks and pandemics.
In Her Words: Dr. Rose Leke Emeritus
Dr. Rose Leke Emeritus, a Professor of Immunology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Yaounde, Cameroon speaks at WGH’s Women in Global Health Security Summit.
In His Words: Dag-Inge Ulstein
Norway’s Minister of International Development, Dag-Inge Ulstein speaks at WGH’s Women in Global Health Security Summit.
In His Words: Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks on how we can have more gender-responsive approaches in global health security.
Former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, talks about the impacts of COVID-19 on women and the need for gender-transformative action.
WOMEN LEADERS MUST PAVE THE WAY FORWARD IN PREPAREDNESS
By Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland
As the Co-chair of The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB), established by The World Bank and World Health Organization in 2018, I have seen first hand what the global landscape for pandemic preparedness looks like.
BUILDING THE INCLUSIVE WORLD WE WANT
By Sir Jeremy Farrar
I have worked in infectious disease and public health for decades, working with colleagues around the world from Beijing to Ho Chi Minh City, Lagos to Addis Ababa, Geneva, to Washington, Lima and London.
FOSTERING GENDER EQUITY FOR BETTER HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
By Jagan Chapagain
The global COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of the health heroes that work across the public health landscape. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) and its 192 National Societies play an important role in global health security.
WGH CANADA COVID 50/50 CAMPAIGN
As a newly established chapter working towards sustainable development, the Women in Global Health (WGH) Canada chapter shared that WGH has been a strong impactful voice during the COVID-19 pandemic on multiple fronts. The WGH Canada chapter aims to highlight the voices of workers left unheard, advocating for better working conditions, and honoring the women frontline health workers who are risking their safety.
WGH ZAMBIA COVID 50/50 CAMPAIGN
As a newly established chapter working towards sustainable development, the Women in Global Health (WGH) Zambia chapter shared what they perceive their role during this pandemic to be. WGH Zambia is focusing on the impact that COVID-19 has had on maternal health and the sensitization of information regarding the pandemic. More importantly, the Zambia chapter is working towards amplifying the voices of women as the pandemic’s task force is currently lacking a gender-sensitive approach.
In response to the key issues identified by the Women in Global Health (WGH) India chapter during COVID-19, the chapter perceives their role as amplifying the voices of workers who would rarely be brought to the public’s attention through media coverage.
WGH CHILE COVID 50/50 Campaign
As the first Latin American chapter of Women in Global Health (WGH), the WGH Chile chapter perceives its role as not only affecting their immediate community members, but also on a broader scale across the South American continent in challenging power and privilege for gender equity in health.
WGH NIGERIA COVID 50/50 Campaign
As a newly established chapter working towards sustainable development, the Women in Global Health (WGH) Nigeria chapter aims to recognize and amplify underrepresented voices by giving a space for women to gather as well as affirm the vital force that women are.
WGH FINLAND COVID 50/50 Campaign
Women in Global Health Finland was co-founded by Jennifer Martin and Salla Atkins in 2019, and now has over 100 members across the country. WGH Finland is focusing on increasing the visibility of global health in Finland by encouraging cross-sectoral partnership and knowledge exchange.