Women as Leaders, Not Victims, on the Path to Universal Healthcare

The intense repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to massive ripple effects felt around the world, particularly in marginalized communities and for the women and girls within them. Within this crisis, however, there are also opportunities for improving the status of women leaders and healthcare workers, and advancing toward universal healthcare as a basic human right.

However, the prevailing narrative around the pandemic tends to paint women and girls as “victims” of the pandemic, or victims of issues and events that impact access to healthcare. This may not be the best way to frame the issue, asserts Sarah Hillware of Women’s Global Health. Relegating women and girls to the role of “victim” can be a major barrier in the path to universal healthcare.

“Globally, women’s rights and gender equality are still seen as technical, siloed issues,” says Hillware. “This was magnified during COVID-19, when we’ve been hearing from governments that ‘now is not the time to focus on gender equality.’”

Hillware asserts that this is a huge strategic mistake. “Unless gender equality is viewed as a foundational pillar of any health system, we will continue to miss the mark. At a time when women have been (and continue to be) disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, we must change the narrative and view women as leaders and part of the solution, not as victims or beneficiaries.”

Originally posted on Philanthropy Women

By Sarah Hillware, Women in Global Health