Maureen Luba
Public health specialist and early career researcher
Maureen is a public health specialist and early career researcher with over fourteen years’ experience in the design and implementation of Sexual reproductive health (SRH), HIV/AIDS, and health systems strengthening programs in East and Southern Africa. She is an independent consultant currently working on various projects on HIV prevention, SRH, Pandemic Preparedness and response, and digital health. She serves on various regional and global advisory Boards including the IAS Global HIV Enterprise Advisory Committee, Medicines Patent Pool Community Advisory Panel and the newly established BRILLIANCE Consortium Scientific Advisory Group
She was an AVAC Fellow and a Global Change Leadership Fellow in 2015 and a Women in Global Health Lead fellow in 2019. She holds a Master of Medical Sciences degree from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Malawi.
All Sessions by Maureen Luba
Women in Global Health: Defying Backlash and Cultivating Leadership for Gender-Responsive Health Systems
Led by: Women in Global Health.
Women in Global Health (WGH) was the first organization to campaign for gender equality in health leadership. Since launching its movement in 2015, its global advocacy is supported today by 57 country chapters across 51 countries. Collectively they have garnered considerable political awareness and momentum towards advancing gender equity in women’s leadership through gender transformative leadership.
UHC is expected to be a game changer for women’s health rights but the progress in many countries is threatened by a growing global backlash against the rights of women and girls and against wider gender equality Gender-responsive health policies and plans can address the gendered health inequities ensuring that they are tailored to the needs of a diverse population. However, this is possible only if there is an inclusive engagement and effective participation of women in policy and decision-making processes in the health sector as it allows for harnessing the diverse perspectives, expertise and lived experiences. Women’s work – paid and unpaid – forms the essential foundation for health, well-being, and delivery of health systems. Despite constituting 70% of the overall global healthcare workforce, women are vastly underrepresented i.e. only 25% in top leadership positions.
The panel moderated by Dr Shabnum Sarfraz, Deputy Executive Director WGH will bring together a dynamic group of women leaders from Nigeria, Kenya, India, Zimbabwe and US Country Chapters. They will together examine gendered health inequalities; explore the impact of escalating anti-rights backlash against women’s rights; navigate the role of women health workers amidst the evolving health landscape; outline why women’s leadership is critical to establishing gender-responsive health systems and towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC); identify the barriers and enablers to women’s advancement in the health sector and highlight the policy initiatives needed to promote gender equity in health leadership.
Moderator: Dr. Shabnum Sarfraz, Global Director, Gender and Health/ Deputy Executive Director, Women in Global Health
Panelists:
1. Ms. Lanice Williams, Independent Consultant, Chair, Women in Global Health Washington, DC Chapter
2. Dr. Choolwe Jacobs WGH Zambia
3. Sapna Kedia, WGH India
4. Ruth Ngechu, WGH Kenya
5. Prof Rhoda Wanyenze, WGH Uganda