Pathfinder International’s Post

Today, as we commemorate International Women’s Day, it is crucial to recognize the central role that women play in African health and development. Their contributions, often unsung, are vital to the wellbeing of their communities and the broader health ecosystem. However, despite their pivotal role, rural African women face numerous barriers that limit their potential. Addressing these challenges and empowering these women is not just a moral imperative but a strategic one, essential for achieving sustainable development and health for all. This is in an article published by Africa.com from our CEO Dr Ebere Okereke and Dr Ibrahima Socé Fall Director of the World Health Organization Neglected Tropical Diseases Program. Read more of the article here: https://lnkd.in/dEW7nb-g #IWD2024

In August, South Africa commemorates Women’s Month, highlighting that through strength and solidarity, women MUST be seen and heard. However, throughout Africa, women face many challenges in achieving true equity. A World Health Organization report states that “a range of adverse socioeconomic pressures including inadequate healthcare prevents African women from realising their full potential.” Women’s Month is a reminder that what we do every day has a greater purpose. The work we do at Roche Africa aims to ramp up disease prevention, early diagnosis and treatment for women in Africa. Women are still the main caregivers in the majority of families, making 90% of the healthcare decisions. They are also their communities' care-givers with over 70% of healthcare workers being women. By not prioritising women’s health and working together to reduce barriers to care, the ramifications extend beyond health. The impact is felt economically and it impacts our future. This month – and every month – let’s work together to give Africa’s women the care they deserve. #WomensMonth #Healthcare #Diagnostics #RocheAfrica #RocheDiagnostics #WomensHealth #Empowerment #Africa

The disheartening reality that, even in modern times, #women still encounter situations where they must seek permission from their husbands to seek medical assistance when they fall ill is not just UNACCEPTABLE but a gross violation of women's Rights! On a separate note, we MUST demand decisive ACTION and ACCOUNTABILITY from leaders across the continent - Heads of States, Ministers of Finance, Ministers of Health, and parliamentary bodies - to prioritize the allocation of #resources towards enhancing #research and development capabilities within their respective nations. This is particularly essential for fostering sustainable progress in healthcare delivery and ensuring equitable #access to medical services for ALL individuals, regardless of gender. Thank you Ms. Joy Phumaphi, Executive Secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) for articulating this in a succinct way! We MUST call out things as they are. 💯 Credits: Rwanda Health Magazine ♻️ Repost if you find this insightful! ♀️ Follow Reagun Andera for similar updates on women's health. #WomensHealth #Accountability #HealthPriorities #Africa Coalition for Women's Health in Africa (COWHA)

Check out this webinar on intergenerational power and gender equality 👍

Responding to GBV using LIVES - First Line Support. I was first trained on LIVES while implementing the USAID Afya Ziwani Project in 2019 as a Project Associate. USAID Afya Ziwani was a service delivery project at the County level that provided HIV services to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Homa Bay, Kisumu and Migori Counties at that time. This was through a PATH Kenya-led consortium of Kenyan non-governmental organizations including National Organization of Peer Educators (NOPE). LIVES (Listen, Inquire, Validate, Enhance safety, and Support) is a World Health Organization (WHO) initiative. 1) Listen closely, with empathy and without judgement. 2) Inquire about needs. 3) Validate women’s experiences. Show you believe and understand. 4) Enhance their safety. 5) Support women to connect with additional services. Healthcare Providers have Respond to Gender-Based Violence using this method effectively. This reflection is my way of launching the #YALI16DaysOfActivism. I hope I can highlight how women and girls bare the greatest brunt of Climate Change through GBV in my next post. YALI RLC EA Alumni Ke YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa.

🌟 I am thrilled to join the #GenevaHealthForum2024, taking place from May 27-29, 2024. On Day 2, dedicated to "Migration, Health, and Equity," I will be presenting findings from my recent PhD studies and the larger project I am coordinating, Being a Migrant Woman During Disasters, supported by Fondazione Cariplo. 📅 Tuesday, May 28 at 4 PM   📢 The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Migrant Women in Milan, Italy: A Qualitative Study Involving Key Informants Working in Third Sector Organizations and Public Hospitals" This study explores the pandemic's impact on #migrantwomen, drawing insights from 28 #keyinformants working across #Milan, including #thirdsectororganizations like Caritas Ambrosiana, DARE NGO, EMERGENCY, and Fondazione Progetto Arca, and #publichospitals such as Clinica Mangiagalli - SVSeD, Sacco Hospital, and Melloni Hospital. Additionally, you can check out my #poster on the website titled "The Unequal Pandemic: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Migrant Women in Milan, Italy." This study features voices of 19 migrant women from 10 different countries, providing first-hand accounts of their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, the perspective of key informants and those of migrant women themselves present significant differences, highlighting the importance of capturing diverse viewpoints in understanding complex issues. I am eager to join the forum and engage with colleagues interested in similar topics! If you will be attending and want to connect, please reach out! 🤝 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gs662yus CRIMEDIM - Center for Research and Training in Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Aid and Global Health Geneva Health Forum #GHF2024 #GlobalHealth #MigrationHealth #HealthEquity #MigrantWomen #COVID19Pandemic #Research #Geneva2024 #CRIMEDIM

"Women and child health is highly important for the Ghanaian government," emphasized Hon Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Deputy Minister of Health, #Ghana, during yesterday's panel on #Women and #Child #Health. His passionate remarks also underscored the necessity of #private #sector #engagement. "We need to engage the private sector by first helping to equip facilities and then encouraging them to operate in particularly underserved areas." 🏥💡 By that, his words truly highlighted the collaborative efforts needed to improve maternal and child #healthcare in Africa. Marcus Dr. Leonhardt, CEO of GESUNDES AFRIKA, called for more attention in #Germany to #Africa, stating, "German #FDI in Hungary is roughly equivalent to the total German FDI across the entire African continent. This shows us that we as Germans, have neglected Africa for too long. Therefore, our future success lies in partnering, not competing." 🤝🌟 The other speakers Dr. Andreas Ullrich from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Dr. Claus Runge from Bayer shared these sentiments. They made clear that the private sector can drive meaningful changes in maternal and child health through partnerships and engagement. The other panel focused on the critical need for joint efforts between public and private sectors to combat Non-Communicable Diseases (NDCs). Hon. Dr. Saeduldeen Saed, Deputy Minister of Health, #Libya, emphasized the importance of public private partnerships in this fight. Atef Fawaz, Executive Director at eHealth Africa, #Nigeria, highlighted the transformative role of digital health solutions in improving diagnostics and treatments. Brenda Kokwaro, Expert at Africa Business Network from #Kenya, advocated for integrating private sector resources into public health strategies to create sustainable health outcomes. Prof. Harald Renz, Professor at The Philipp University of Marburg pointed out the critical role of advanced diagnostics in managing non-communicable diseases and how strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors can critically enhance healthcare outcomes in Africa.💡🔬 Look out for more insights and updates as we take a look at the remaining panels over the next few days. 📢✨ #GAHF24 #Healthcare #Innovation #German #African #SustainableDevelopment GHA - German Health Alliance

The 5th Edition of the Africa Women Summit will start tomorrow 8th May to 10th May, at JW Marriott Nairobi. The summit aims to bring together #influentialleaders, #advocates, #experts, and #stakeholders from across Africa and the globe to address critical issues surrounding women’s health. This year's theme “Women’s Health: Empowering Voices, Inspiring Change,” seeks to create a platform for open dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaborative action to improve women’s health outcomes in Africa. Despite significant progress in various areas, women in Africa still face numerous challenges concerning their health and well-being. Gender disparities, limited access to healthcare, cultural stigmatization, and socio-economic barriers hinder women from realizing their full health potential. This summit acknowledges these challenges and seeks to find innovative solutions and strategies to overcome them. Join Us! #AfricaWomenSummit #Publichealth #Womeninhealth #Womeninpublichealth #Africa #Womeninleadership

Today marks World Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Day, a pivotal moment to reflect on the global challenges posed by NTDs. These diseases disproportionately affect the most vulnerable communities around the world. I am proud to shine a light on WI-HER, LLC's remarkable efforts in tackling these diseases. By focusing on gender equity and social inclusion (GESI), WI-HER is not just fighting NTDs but also breaking down the barriers that hinder control, elimination and eradication efforts. Join me in recognizing the critical importance of this work and to raise awareness to these often-overlooked diseases, particularly the lesser-known but equally devastating Female and Male Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS/MGS), a disease that profoundly impacts reproductive health and underscores the need for inclusive healthcare solutions. Find out more by following coalitions like the Global Schistosomiasis Alliance. #WorldNTDDay #UniteActEliminate

🇬🇳 Discover how Breakthrough ACTION is integrating gender into risk communication and community engagement activities in #Guinea, leading to more effective and inclusive health responses. Our new blog post provides an in-depth look at our three-pronged approach: https://lnkd.in/gE4-RB2Q Version française : https://lnkd.in/gc-c4d-T #BreakthroughACTION | USAID