Pakistan

Founded: November 2018

The first chapter in Asia region, Women in Global Health Pakistan Chapter was founded by P2impact, Pakistan shortly following the second Women Leaders in Global Health Conference in November 2018. P2impact continues to be the chapter’s founding and housing secretariat. Since its formal launch in August 2019 under the patronage of Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, the chapter has continued to expand, with over 300 members across the world today.

Our aims

The WGH Pakistan Chapter is working to : a) ensure women’s participation and recognition of their contribution towards achieving the targets for Health, Gender & Economic Development; b) safeguard the presence of women leaders in health to guard interests of sub-groups, c) make interventions and conversations more inclusive and collaborative, and d) enable systems that pave way for higher female participation closing the economic opportunity gap.

The WGH Pakistan Chapter also desires to provide a platform for discussion & collective knowledge creation, nurturing a collaborative space for mentorship programs and leadership trainings; facilitating research on gender specific issues in health; policy analysis; and advocacy for Gender Transformative Leadership in global health.

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Get in touch

Email: wghpakistan@womeningh.org

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Our work

Expanding the priority agenda of Women in Global Health Movement, WGH Pakistan leads and actively implements key research and advocacy engagements in region and Pakistan.

Our advocacy

WGH Pakistan Chapter has been working very closely with the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Government of Pakistan on the National Gender Policy Framework, launched amidst much fanfare on this International Women’s Day IWD2022, spearheaded by the Chapter’s country lead, Dr Shabnum Sarfraz, also leading the complete social sector portfolio of Pakistan.

In August 2022, WGH Pakistan Chapter also technically supported the Federal Ministry in organizing the first ever national consultative dialogue on the career progression and planning for community health workers.

Pakistan Chapter Lead Dr Shabnum Sarfraz was also part of the 22nd Gates’ Foundation Grand Challenges annual meeting and the Women in Science Lunch hosted by Dr Anita Zaidi, to deliberate on a future Grand Challenge RFP focussing on gender equity and equality.

In 2021, to voice the need for gender-transformative action for health and care workforce, P2i put together a country power delegation of Fourteen Dynamic Women Leaders from WGHPakistan who are moving, shaking and shaping the health sector space for Pakistan. This power delegation participated in the High-level event ‘Achieving gender-transformative policy action’ on July 1st as part of the Gender Equal Health and Care Workforce Initiative.

On International Women’s Day 2021, Pakistan Chapter led the Pakistan Membership for the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) Satellite Symposium organized by Harvard Global Health Institute, titled ‘Creating Exceptional Women Leaders – The Missing Links of Mentorship and Networking’.

WGH Pakistan is also compiling stories of women working in health in Pakistan, to feature their journeys, daily struggles, contributions and their valor through the chapter’s Instagram page under the #WomenHealthWorkers in Spotlight campaign.

Research

In 2020, Pakistan Chapter conducted a study on experiences of women leaders in health sector in the country, their gendered experiences, barriers and facilitators, glass ceilings, roles played by their families, contribution of peers and colleagues, and more.

In 2021, Pakistan Chapter supported P2impact in leading the first study on the experiences of women working in the Planning Commission in Pakistan, to develop a gender conducive environment. The study was received very well and replicated by the Commission in 44 federal ministries in the country, to develop guidelines for a gender-conducive work environment.

Pakistan Chapter also led a study on the experiences of frontline female health workers during COVID-19.

In 2022, Pakistan Chapter is partnering with other WGH country chapters and WGH Global in conducting a study on leadership experiences of community health workers.

Networking and Collaborations

In 2021, Pakistan Chapter launched Mentorship Hours, featuring eminent leaders in health sector in Pakistan, giving an opportunity to young and aspiring health professionals in the country to connect with seasoned sectoral leaders, ask and receive responses to their pertinent questions. This has formed the basis for the WGH Pakistan Conspectus Podcast, featuring leaders in health answering tough questions around career management in health, productivity and related areas.

Pakistan chapter is also putting together the first directory of Women in Global Health in Pakistan. The directory will also be featuring the Movers and Shakers of health sector in Pakistan, capturing sectoral interests, identifying prospective mentors and mentees.

In 2023 Pakistan Chapter will also be organizing the Gender Equality Bootcamp, coaching, training and mentoring aspiring health professionals on virtual participation and voice raising around critical global health advocacy and policy movements.

In addition to these, Pakistan Chapter continues to host in person and virtual events around critical WGH agendas.

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