Breaking Through Challenges and Promoting Women’s Leadership in the Health Sector

Women in Global Health “Afrique de l’Ouest Francophone” (WGH AOF), a regional chapter of WGH, is an apolitical, secular, non-denominational, and nonprofit association that brings together women experts, emerging experts, and their allies from the health sector and health-related sectors. The members advocate for women’s leadership in health and carry out activities for the population’s health and well-being. The majority of them live, work, or have an attachment or commitment to at least one of the following 10 countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.

Why does WGH AOF exist?

The existence of the WGH AOF network in response to the low representation of French-speaking African women at the health system decision-making tables at local, regional, and international levels due to multiple barriers1, especially language. The network aims to transform gender norms in Francophone Africa where the patriarchal culture too often leaves women with little or no decisive power over both personal, family, and community issues.

WGH AOF’s specific objectives, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, are:

• Support francophone women in Africa with opportunities for training, networking, communications, knowledge transfer, and exchange

• Facilitate francophone women access to decision-making positions at the national, regional, and international levels

• Advocate for access to healthcare and better living and working conditions for women working in health and health-related professions

WGH AOF offers motivated and mobilized women experts in global health the opportunity to contribute to health decision-making. WGH AOF is helping to establish national chapters that will work locally. In Burkina Faso, the national chapter has secured a commitment from the Ministry of Health to support the implementation of gender-sensitive policies for global health security.

WGH AOF’s work also highlights the fact that although countries in the region are committed to achieving universal health coverage goals, they are not yet fulfilling the needs of professionals in the health sector.

Dr. Naimatou Moussa’s case is a perfect example. Naima is the current communication officer for both the French-speaking West Africa and Senegal chapters of Women in Global Health, and she leads the Togolese chapter of Women in Global Health. She is an active member of WGH AOF and has always fought to defend the values and credo of the association. Though she has been battling an aggressive disease for the past three years, Naima continues to selflessly make herself available to provide care for her patients. She volunteered for WGH chapters activities until her condition worsened. Due to financial and logistical barriers, she has trouble accessing cancer care where she lives.

The bottom line is that illness catches up with everyone and can undermine their engagement and effort to contribute to an equitable world. This is the reason why we at WGH AOF are committed to start the change we want to see and empower our members to rise to the occasion. Thanks to the great generosity and solidarity from Naima’s peers in WGH Chapters, family members, and network, she is now able to fund her treatment and receive appropriate care.

How could WGH AOF achieve its goals?

An effective implementation of WGH AOF strategic plan is essential to achieve its goals. this plan includes strategies that should help:

• Strengthen the network with:

  o The development and publication of a statistical yearbook highlighting the activities and expertise of members

  o The establishment of a coaching and mentoring system allowing senior members to support younger members in their personal and professional development

  o The creation of partnerships with national, continental, and global structures

  o Capacity building for members in leadership, communication, and networking

• Mobilize resources to:

  o Support the activities implemented by the chapter members at local, national regional and international level

  o Support the network’s advocacy for universal health coverage and gender equity in health leadership

To break through the multiple challenges its members face every day, WGH AOF needs support and strategic partnerships. With the backing and investment of international allies and colleagues, we can promote more women to leadership positions in the health sector and improve women’s lives in Francophone Africa.

References

Ouédraogo S, Gautier L, Mac-Seing M, Tine S, Perez MC, Kadio K, Chegno R, Jones CM. De-patriarchalising and levelling science for French-speaking women. Lancet. 2019 Feb 9;393(10171):e23-e24.