WiPHLA Launches Initiative to Boost Women Leadership in African Public Health
An initiative, Women in Public Health Leadership for Africa (WiPHLA), has launched its activities to boost women’s participation in public health in Africa and to strengthen national health systems and achieve better health outcomes.
The initiative aims to advance the influence and representation of women specifically in leadership roles within Africa’s public health sector.
The event, themed “Catalyzing and Amplifying Leadership Effectiveness for Women in Public Health Leadership,” was held at Shehu Yar’Adua Centre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Dr. Bolanle Oyeledun, Governing Council Member of WiPHLA described the event as a landmark and history innovation
According to her women make-up a good percentage of the health sector in the African continent.
“This is indeed an epoch-making event. Today represents a very bold step forward for public health leadership in our continent, and I am proud to really be part of this movement,” she said.
She emphasised the importance of equipping women with the necessary skills and knowledge to take on leadership roles.
“Africa’s health outcomes will not improve sustainably unless we all come together to strengthen, support, and equip the women who already form the backbone of our health systems,” she added
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Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, echoed the same sentiments while drawing parallels with her state where women have made significant contributions to public health.
According to her global evidence suggests that gender-balanced leadership leads to stronger governance practices, better organisational resilience, and improved health outcomes.
“Studies by the Harvard School of Public Health show that teams with gender balance leadership record stronger governance practices and better organisational resilience. Gaps limits performance when leadership fails to reflect the people it serves.
“When women hold strategic leadership positions, there is diversity and this strengthens judgment and widens the range of solutions available to your system,” Dr. Balarabe emphasised.
To address this issue, the deputy governor outlined three priorities for advancing women in public health leadership which include “capacity building, leadership development, and influence.”
A representative of the French Embassy, Pierre-Louis Bonnel, also expressed support for the initiative, highlighting the importance of women’s leadership in public health.
“We are delighted to see such brilliant leadership today, rising, launching, taking initiative, entrepreneurship, and mobilisation of all other factors within Nigeria and beyond,” she said.
The diplomats stated France’s position in support of “such initiatives and every activity or action that is gender-based or gender-responsive, no matter the area.”
