PAHO urges investment in women for Caribbean health transformation
The Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, has underscored the imperative of bolstering women’s leadership in tandem with fortifying the health workforce across the Americas, including the Caribbean, especially amid the reverberations of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing the High-Level Dialogue “Women’s Leadership in the Regional Health and Resilience Agenda,” organized by the Inter-American Task Force on Women’s Leadership, Dr. Barbosa emphasized the pivotal role of women’s leadership in attaining universal health and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Overcoming barriers and upholding representation
Dr. Barbosa shed light on the challenges confronting women health workers, stressing that these hurdles extend beyond individual well-being to impact broader communities.
He called for enhanced representation of women in decision-making spheres, advocating for their voices to be heard and heeded in crafting more equitable and resilient societies.
Gender disparities in health workforce
PAHO highlighted findings from a World Health Organization (WHO) analysis, revealing entrenched leadership disparities between men and women in the global health workforce.
Stereotypes, discrimination, and power imbalances were cited as root causes, with women, particularly those from marginalized groups, facing compounded challenges.
A call for equity and inclusion
Asserting PAHO’s commitment to gender equality, Dr. Barbosa reiterated the organization’s dedication to investing in women and integrating their perspectives into decision-making processes.
He emphasized the pivotal role of women in building resilient health systems and fostering sustainable development.
OAS Secretary-General echoes commitment to gender equality
OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro affirmed the organization’s historic dedication to gender equality, citing its conventions and normative frameworks.
Despite strides made, Almagro acknowledged persisting gender disparities, particularly in the realm of healthcare, urging transformative action to dismantle entrenched discrimination.
PAHO’s commitment to women’s leadership
Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas, PAHO Assistant Director, highlighted the organization’s initiatives to enhance women’s representation in leadership roles.
She emphasized the significance of incorporating a gender perspective into health workforce policies, underscoring PAHO’s efforts to improve access to essential health services, including cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination, to empower women across the region.
