Group calls for inclusion of women in healthcare leadership
Members of Extraordinary Women Advancing Healthcare (EWAH), has called for increased inclusion of women in leadership to strengthen healthcare delivery in the country.
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Mrs Clare Omatseye, the Chairperson of Extraordinary Women Advancing Healthcare (EWAH), Advisory Board, made the call at a news conference organised by EWAH on Friday, ahead of its awards scheduled for July 7 in Lagos.
According to her, women make up two-third of the medical workforce globally, but are not visible at the top when it comes to decision making.
She explained that EWAH, which is a Commonwealth institute programme, highlights the inequalities in the health system.
“We need to empower more women to get into decision making positions in the health sector to enable them to bring their inborn natural skills to use.
“Women constitute a large part of the medical workforce globally and in Nigeria, but are not very visible at the top of affairs or leadership positions.
“Nigeria has one of the worst under-five mortality and maternal mortality rate globally, this means all hands should be on deck to solve this problem.”
On the upcoming awards, Omatseye, who is the Founder of JNCI Limited, said that the event, in its second year, was put together to recognise women who had made impact in all strata of the medical chain.
She said the awards, which focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion, would recognise 10 women for their impact and contributions to health in the country.
“EWAH awards recognise various women across board who have done a lot to promote the impact women are making in healthcare and changing the narratives to access care.
“This is a lifetime incentive for women to come into leadership positions and be visible,” she said.
Dr Bisi Bright, the CEO of LiveWell Initiative and Regional Representative for EWAH awards AFRICA, said the event differ from most conventional awards.
Bright said awardees were picked through rigorous process, adding that the Miles-to-Go’ Mindset is a key qualification for the awards.
She added that, “The EWAH awards handpicks women who are impactful at any level of healthcare, as awardees do not necessarily need to be healthcare professionals, or highly placed medical practitioners.
“One of the winners of the inaugural awards in 2023 was a low literacy community women’s leader, as well as two university vice chancellors, a low income healthcare worker from Northern Nigeria and a first lady.
“Winners must be innovative women who have a far view into the future. The key words for the EWAH Awards are: Innovation, Diversity, Inclusivity and a ‘Miles-to-g’ Mindset.
“We want, through EWAH Awards, to get more women into top healthcare positions.”
