Dr. Gwladys Kouakou, a highly skilled public health professional specializing in community health, women’s health, and Universal Health Coverage has been making significant gains in improving healthcare in Côte d’Ivoire, her native country. Since graduating from Félix Houphouët Boigny University in 2015, she has held various positions leading projects to promote women’s health and reproductive rights.
Her journey began as a clinician in the Neonatology Unit of a health center with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), where she trained nurses and midwives to ensure safe deliveries for women and girls. It was during this time that she experienced a distressing incident which would shape her future.
A pregnant woman was experiencing birth difficulty, but Dr Kouakou was unable to obtain the husband’s approval to refer the newborn for specialized treatment in another city. The child died.
“I saw that if we had enough qualified doctors for the population in more areas, we could reduce this kind of mortality,” she says.
Dr. Kouakou later joined Action Against Hunger, where she focused on educating young girls about safe sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) practices. She then moved on to Population Services International, where she provided support and information to young women in high-risk professions, emphasizing the importance of frequent screenings and HIV prevention.
Recognizing the vital role of women leaders as role models for aspiring young professionals, Dr. Kouakou emphasizes the need for intergenerational unity and collaboration. She encourages young women in the health sector to continuously improve their skills, fearlessly pursue leadership positions, and seize opportunities in decision-making spaces.
“We should invite the young generation to unite with senior professionals so we can together advocate for the same things.”
In 2022, Dr. Kouakou joined Muso, a Non-Governmental Organization, based in Mali and Cote Côte d’Ivoire, as the Clinical Learning and Training Manager, leveraging her extensive experience in directing successful health training programs and her commitment for equitable and accessible healthcare for women and children.
Throughout her career, she has trained a wide range of health professionals, managed innovative projects spanning nutrition, mental health, and reproductive health, and successfully led care delivery teams.
She is particularly impressed by the impact of digital interventions which she has helped deliver during her time with Muso, “Through digital information sessions with community members and online capacity building with health professionals, we have been able to reduce home deliveries, late pregnancy consultations, and pregnancy complications. In this way, we can contribute to the reduction of maternal deaths.”
Dr. Kouakou has a clear demand for decision makers from local to global levels. “Enable women through education, particularly in rural and urban areas. Decision-makers must help women to have better access to opportunities, as they are often overlooked in leadership roles.”
Dr. Kouakou highlights the importance of empowering the community, “Engage with women and girls at the community level and grant them the ability to take care of their own health and chart their own destiny.”
