Celebrating women
March 8 was International Women’s Day—dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements and raising awareness about the discrimination women face. This year’s theme was #EmbraceEquity. Here’s how organizations in the global health community commemorated the day:
The Gates Foundation explained how they are supporting women through their Water, Sanitation & Hygiene program, agriculture program, financial services program, and more.
Partners In Health celebrated this year’s theme by asking women in leadership roles around their organization what gender equity means to them. They also shared information on their organization’s efforts toward gender equity.
PATH spoke on the importance of gender equity, the ways they are working to advance gender equity in health, the connection between gender equity in health and achieving universal health coverage, and more.
Speak Up Africa announced a partnership agreement with Kitambaa to improve women’s and girls’ access to menstrual health services.
VillageReach shared the stories of three inspiring female health workers from Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan who are leading the way toward a polio-free future.
World Vision discussed how they are advancing gender equality and social inclusion perspectives in their work and shared their Gender Equality and Social Inclusion toolkit.
Women in Global Health held a virtual event to launch their new flagship publication: The State of Women and Leadership in Global Health. They presented evidence on the position of women in global health and new research on women’s leadership in health from Women in Global Health chapters in Kenya, Nigeria, and India.
Interested in joining the movement of professional women and allies working toward gender equity in global health? Join Women in Global Health Seattle or a find chapter near you. Follow Women in Global Health on social media to stay updated on gender equity initiatives, events, and advocacy opportunities.
Leaders in global health
Congratulations to Brooke Cutler, Vice President at WGHA member organization Kati Collective, who has been selected to participate in WomenLift Health’s 2023 North America Leadership Journey. Brooke is one of just 30 participants who were chosen for this cohort. The program is designed to give global health leaders the tools, mentorship, and coaching support to help expand their power and influence.
Three years later
As of March 11, it has been three years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and the current death toll is nearing 7 million. Henry Ford Health reflects on what we know about COVID-19 now, and experts from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation like Dr. Peter Hotez, winner of WGHA’s Luminary Leader Award, discuss the ongoing effects of COVID-19 and reflect on lessons learned over the past three years.
Expanding SCD care
Seattle Children’s Sickle Cell Disease Program is expanding its inpatient and outpatient care to help ensure kids, teens, and young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) continue to receive quality care. The expansion includes a new pain management protocol and improved psychosocial, neurological, scheduling, and patient navigation support for SCD patients. The expanded team includes providers from Seattle Children's Odessa Brown Children's Clinic and Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, among others.
Helping Ukrainians
International Medical Corps partnered with the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative to develop a seven-part emergency- and trauma-care training program for health workers, public safety professionals, and the Ukrainian community. The program includes training in managing trauma and mass casualties, and cases related to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive hazards. The first phase of the training program started in August 2022 and trained more than 2,000 people across Ukraine. The second phase, which includes Ukrainian instructors trained earlier, began in January 2023. Read more about the training program and learn about the global humanitarian organization’s ongoing response in Ukraine.
Anytime
Sisters in Public Health has a scholarship opportunity for master’s and PhD students in public health who identify as women. Learn more about the criteria for eligibility and how to apply here.
Around the community
March 18: RSVP for Fred Hutch’s 2023 Updates in Bladder and Urinary Tract Cancers to hear providers present key information on these cancers, such as diagnosis, treatment, innovation and research updates, best supportive care measures for patients and families, and more.
March 23: Register for PATH’s Malaria webinar: What’s next with malaria vaccines? to learn more about key challenges to vaccine development and access—financial, scientific, and delivery—with perspectives offered by experts in their respective fields.
March 25: Join The Max Foundation for the annual Maximize Life Gala! This captivating evening brings together supporters from all over the world in celebration of the foundation’s mission to accelerate health equity and to raise critical funds for patient support. The live event takes place in the eclectic SODO neighborhood. The inspiring program will be streamed virtually for guests to enjoy around the globe.