Women in Global Health Cameroon
Globally, 70% of women make the healthcare workforce, only 30% are in position of leadership (WHO, 2019). Why then are women so many at the base and very get to the top? Is it a problem of talent? Is it the environment that is not conducive?
Thanks to the Higher Women Consortium (host), WGH Cameroon was launched in October 2019 to respond to this global health challenge of gender inequality. Our goal in Cameroon is to contribute to the creation of enabling environments for gender transformative leadership in global health and contribute to the empowerment of more women and girls for sustainable and equitable global health. To achieve this, we aim create and sustain 10 branches of WGH Cameroon across Cameroon by the year 2023. Our strategic plan for the next 05 years will be out soonest. WGH Cameroon appears to be the second WGH chapter launched in Africa after Somalia.
On the International Women's Day (IWD) 2020, WGH Cameroon organised a workshop to build capacity of internally displaced ladies at the capital of Cameroon in Yaounde. These ladies fled conflicts-affected areas and became vulnerable, exposed to exploitation and abuse, prostitution, ill-health, unwanted marriage, pregnancies etc. This cohort of ladies was trained to understand menstrual hygiene management and safe sexual practices as well as leadership and entrepreneurship. We aim to follow a cohort of 20 internally displaced ladies using a gender transformative approach based on mentorship, networking and placements.
COVID Activities
We are also supporting the government in responding to the Covid19 epidemic through key activities:
1. Solidarity movements for frontliners: We made a donation to the Covid19 treatment Centre of the Jamot hospital in Yaounde. We provided protective personal equipment, beverages and food supply to support healthcare workers working in frontline.
2. Digital campaign for Covid19: In collaboration with the Access challenge, WGH Cameroon launched a digital campaign to raise awareness on Covid19 in Cameroon.
3. Covid19 Sheroes: Acknowledging women frontliners in Cameroon to support and encourage them. We aim to produce a magazine of all female frontliners when it reaches 500 women.
4. Internally displaced ladies and Covid19: We aim to prepare a cohort of 20 internally displaced ladies for the postcovid era through a gender transformative approach. We will also use this opportunity to raise awareness on rising cases of Gender-based violence.