Press Release: Heroines of Health 2023
Global health awards recognize outstanding women in health
July 19, 2023 – Twelve women on the frontlines of health systems across the African continent including Ethiopia, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Malawi, Uganda, Nigeria, Togo and Ghana are the winners of the 2023 Women in Global Health Heroines of Health Awards.
Award winners have been recognized for their outstanding contribution to advance safe maternity and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the context of a global campaign to roll-back decades of progress for the rights of women and girls.
Among them, a Ugandan community health worker advocating for sexual and reproductive health services in her district; a Kenyan feminist delivering disability-friendly medical abortion services in local health facilities; and a pioneering nursing graduate from rural Ghana, breaking social and gender norms to enable women and girls to access the health services they need.
“Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights are central to the sustainable development of societies, and the individual autonomy and well-being of women and girls,” said Dr Roopa Dhatt, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Women in Global Health.
“Women health workers, like the 2023 Heroines of Health are the backbone of our health systems, comprising the majority of health workers and accounting for over 90% of nurses and midwives. They play a crucial role in counseling and supporting women to access a range of modern contraceptives and make informed decisions about high-risk or unwanted pregnancies. Unfortunately, health workers face increasing challenges when carrying out this essential work.
“From violence and harassment at safe abortion facilities to online abuse, from legal threats to defunded services, women health workers are on the frontlines. Despite the intimidation, the dangers, and the moral injury, many put themselves at daily risk to provide care and support to women and girls. We should never underestimate the courage and the determination to provide care that health workers show every day.”
“On behalf of all Women in Global Health, I congratulate our 12 Awardees,” said Dr Dhatt.
Held on the sidelines of the 2023 Women Deliver Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, the Heroines of Health event on July 19 is the first time in its six year history that the Awards ceremony has been held in Africa and puts the spotlight on traditionally unrecognized women who are leading change in global health.
As well as the Heroines of Health, attendees will hear from keynote speaker, Hon Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders, First woman President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The event will be moderated by Femi Oke, renowned international broadcaster and journalist, with individual awards presented by leading figures in international politics and global health.
ENDS
Media contact and to connect with heroines or Women in Global Health Executive Director please contact: Joan Bolger e: joan.bolger@womeningh.org / t: 00353 – 85-285-6977
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EDITOR’S NOTES
Women in Global Health (WGH) is the fast-growing women-led movement demanding gender equity in global health. While women represent the majority of the workforce, they hold just a quarter of leadership positions. Women in Global Health campaigns for equal representation for women in health leadership; equitable pay and ending unpaid work for women health workers; and the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
Heroines of Health – 2023: Read their remarkable stories in full.
Ms. Konolbé Yvette Ouedraogo a midwife from Burkina Faso spent 17 years working for the Ministry of Health in her native country. In just four years she advanced antenatal and postal services through assisted delivery reducing home births from 80-20%. Over time, and after 26 years in the field Ms. Ouedraogo has taken on the role of an advocate, mentor, and trainer for other midwives. She is a strong advocate for sexual and reproductive health rights, given her determination to enable women to take charge of their own bodies. Today, Ms. Ouedraogo holds the position of Gender-Based Violence Regional Advisor for West and Central Africa with EngenderHealth.
Ms. Afi Kpaba’s achievements in Togo have broken barriers in the traditionally male-dominated health sector of her country. At the age of 21 she became a community health worker and after eight years has started to advise other organizations on best practices in delivering quality health care. She has witnessed a remarkable transformation in her community since the implementation of the Integrated Primary Care Program–deaths and untreated illnesses have declined significantly. She also advocates on behalf of other CHWs for fair compensation, comprehensive training and provision of adequate supplies.
Ms. Prossy Muyingo, from Uganda, works as a hairdresser and doubles as a community health worker. She sees her long braiding sessions as the perfect opportunity to educate her clients on vaccination, reproductive health, and disease prevention. Guided by the belief that women should have the autonomy to make informed choices about their health, she educates young women on reproductive health, including options for contraception and prevention of sexually transmitted disease. Ms. Muyingo is a strong advocate for fair pay and decent working conditions for all community health workers. “It’s time for policymakers to think about us. We need to be fairly compensated, properly equipped and continuously trained”.
Ms. Meskerem Setegne, from Ethiopia, suffered from epistaxis as a child, a medical condition causing excessive nosebleeds and irregular menstrual bleeding. The treatment she received in government-run health centers inspired her to pursue a career in health and she now works as a midwife. “Ten years ago in Ethiopia, 30-50% of in-hospital maternal deaths were from complications of abortion.” Though that figure has now reduced to 4% given new legislation to restrict unsafe abortion, Ms Setegne is calling on policymakers to drive further change. “Changes need to happen at ministry and at district level, and managers need to be supported to apply the law. Stigma and maltreatment still exist.”
Dr. Gwladys Kouakou, a highly skilled public health professional specializing in community health in Côte d’Ivoire has held various positions leading projects to promote women’s health and reproductive rights. 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. 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.”
Senegal midwife, Joséphine Djiboune, has made a major contribution to the numbers of prenatal and postnatal consultations in her district, and to increasing the number of deliveries in facilities with the assistance of qualified health workers. Thanks to her work in strengthening access to healthcare and her commitment to combating gender-based violence, she was promoted to Reproductive Health Coordinator in the Médina Yoro Foulah district by the State of Senegal in 2016 and named an Amref “Champion” in 2022. Ms. Djiboune is committed to raising awareness in the community, utilizing public radio broadcasts as a platform to bring health services closer to the people.
Dr. Elizabeth Igaga, Ugandan anesthesiologist, was part of the team that advocated for the use of intrathecal morphine during labor and oral medication after delivery to enable patients to manage their pain. Her advocacy resulted in changes to anesthesia and pain relief approaches during labor in maternity wards nationwide. Dr. Igaga started out as one of the only 40 anesthesiologists in her country. Uganda now has over 80 anesthesiologists, and nearly half of them are women. This is no accident; she serves as a mentor to many aspiring young women doctors across the country.
Professor Hadiza Shehu Galadanci is the first woman consultant, gynecologist, and Professor of Medicine in the Kano region of Nigeria. She has dedicated her life to reducing maternal and child mortality rates, worked to combat gender disparities in health and has played a pivotal role in shaping policies relating to critical maternal health challenges worldwide. Professor Galadanci has authored over 100 publications in peer reviewed journals and played a leading role in numerous global health studies. She has trained and mentored over 2000 national and regional health students enabling them to take on leadership roles across Nigeria and the African region.
Ms. Worknesh Kereta, nicknamed “Mother of Youth” by her peers, is a nurse and public health professional who has dedicated her career to revolutionizing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for adolescents and youth in Ethiopia. After joining Pathfinder and getting learnings and insights from a Pathfinder-led model program in Mozambique, she piloted a Youth Friendly Services (YFS) program integrating youth-friendly health services in public health facilities. The service has since been scaled up in 668 public health facilities nationwide. Today, the government of Ethiopia is a proactive partner in developing, funding, and implementing this national program for adolescents and youth.
Ms. Rukaya Mumuni is the first girl in her family and one of the few women in her village in Ghana to receive a graduate degree. As a nurse, Rukaya has delivered care while representing the voices of women and girls in her community. She has advocated for improved treatment and service delivery for pregnant women and children, bringing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) interventions to the forefront of her work. By institutionalizing screening initiatives for cervical cancer and breast cancer among hospital staff and community members, she has addressed one of the leading causes of death among women of reproductive age. Ms. Mumuni is also an advocate for expanding access to family planning services, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) education, and cervical cancer prevention across her district.
Ms. Mary William Brown is a respected community health worker and leader in her local area of Malawi. Since 2004, after being selected by members of her community, she has worked to improve access to contraception for women and adolescent girls and is improving health outcomes of expecting mothers in the Neno district where she works. With the support of the CHWs she supervises, her team conducts health screenings, provides education, and accompanies pregnant women and new mothers to healthcare facilities. Since 2010, the community she supports has not had any maternal deaths and up to 80% of the postnatal women in her district attend postnatal care. “Family planning gives women the opportunity to give birth by choice and not by chance,” she says.
Phylis Mbeke Ndolo, from Kenya, is an activist and feminist with impaired vision who has been working with grassroots organizations in her native country for over a decade. She focuses on integrating disability rights into the reproductive justice movement and emphasizes the importance of a community lens in driving policy change. As the Founder and Executive Director of Women Spaces Africa, Ms Ndolo is committed to creating inclusive and sustainable development spaces for women and girls with disabilities. Women Spaces Africa promotes safer abortion methods, improves physical access to safe abortion services, and raises awareness among health service providers about the specific needs of women and girls with disabilities. So far, the project has improved disability-friendly medical abortion services in 39 healthcare facilities gaining national and international recognition.
