Today, the Chief Medical Director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo, joins the rest of the world to commemorate the International Women’s Day under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”.
According to UNESCO, “International Women’s Day is an occasion to celebrate the progress made towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment but also to critically reflect on those accomplishments and strive for a greater momentum towards gender equality worldwide. It is a day to recognize the extraordinary acts of women and to stand together, as a united force, to advance gender equality around the world.”
Throughout human history, women have played a significant role in health care. Women are increasingly being recognized as more vulnerable to natural disasters and gender-based violence recorded in all parts of the world, most especially the developing nations. However, women are effective and powerful change makers as they are involved in sustainable initiatives around the world; their participation and involvement result in more effective actions.
While dwelling on the theme for this year’s event ‘’Gender equality today for sustainable tomorrow’, Prof. Fabamwo, in recognition and celebration of the women in the health sector, particularly in LASUTH, applauds women for their contributions towards participation in the health system, as users of healthcare, as workers and leaders in the sector.
He therefore, charged everyone concerned, that as they celebrate the strides that women have made all over the world, the need to actively choose to challenge the stereotypes and fight the bias that often reinforce gender inequality in the health sector, in Nigeria and the world at large is pertinent.
He said, everyone can do something to broaden perceptions and improve situations for women. Collectively, each one of us can help create a gender equal health sector, country and world at large.
