Women Making a Difference in Global Health
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| Dr. Rita Leavell works on behalf of Jordan's 2.5 million women to improve the early detection of breast cancer, the second leading cause of death of women in that country. Read more... Source: The Jordan Private Sector Project for Women's Health |
View the entire listing of profiles from USAID’s new series highlighting women whose work through USAID-supported projects are making a difference in the lives of other women, families, and communities.
Environmental Health
- As a member of the Uganda Women's Efforts to Save Orphans, Hawa Nakanwagi works to promote sanitation in Uganda communities through construction and management of rainwater harvesting facilities.
Family Planning
Family Planning and Reproductive Health
- The Yemeni Midwives Association is improving delivery of reproductive health and family planning services to reduce high maternal and child mortality and morbidity.
- Throughout her 13-year career in international health and development Dr. Nafissatou Diop has made her name as a dynamo in support of reproductive health not only in her native Senegal, but also in francophone West Africa and beyond.
- Worknesh Kereta, who is referred to by many young Ethiopians as "mother of the youth," has focused her efforts on serving those who most need services and support – women, youth, and people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Female Genital Cutting/Mutilation
- Maryam Sheikh Abdi built upon her personal experiences to help end the practice of female genital cutting/mutilation in Kenya.
Gender Issues
- Bogalech Alemu has worked tirelessly and effectively to chip away at and gradually change beliefs and practices that are harmful to girls and women but are deeply entrenched in ancient traditions in Ethiopia.
- Dorothy Awino struggled for nine years to make ends meet as a single mother after her marriage ended in 1992. She kept a journal of her experiences to give her strength, not knowing that she would one day become a champion, fighting to help other women hold onto what they had lost. In 2003, she joined with other Kenyan women who had suffered disinheritance to found a community-based organization to address gender discrimination and women's inheritance rights.
- Dr. Nafsiah Mboi is grappling with more than just the vastness of Indonesia as she tackles the challenge of stemming the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country. She’s also combating gender inequity and low status of women, which impairs their ability to prevent AIDS.
- "SASA! A Film About Women, Violence and HIV/AIDS" tells the story of two courageous women who triumphed over gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS and gained power that helped them organize, become activists in their communities, and build meaningful and rewarding lives.
Health Systems
- Energetic, creative and passionate about her work, Elena Hurtado has led the design of several key national strategies for maternal and child health, nutrition, family planning, and HIV/AIDS and managed community mobilization activities and behavior change interventions in support of the Guatemalan Ministry of Health. Recognized both nationally and internationally as an accomplished researcher, health program evaluator, and behavior change expert, Elena's greatest passion is direct contact with the communities she serves: It is rare to find Elena behind a desk for long.
- Dr. Rita Leavell works on behalf of Jordan’s 2.5 million women to improve the early detection of breast cancer, the second leading cause of death of women in that country.
Dr. Leavell’s efforts have helped establish the Jordan Breast Cancer Program, whose five-year goal is to detect at least 70 percent of breast cancer cases in the early, curable stages.
- Fatu Yumkella has dedicated her energies and talents to strengthening health care and health systems in developing countries for more than 25 years.
HIV/AIDS
- Dr. Olga Chernobrovkina is a leading expert in quality improvement in Russia who runs innovative improvement efforts for HIV/AIDS care that involve providers from more than 100 hospitals and city AIDS centers, social services organizations, and nongovernmental organizations.
- A devoted global health activist and leader in international HIV/AIDS work, Kathleen Kay worked relentlessly to improve the quality of life of marginalized populations, especially women and children. In a 1992 address, she told a group of students, "Don't accept labels from others or yourself, and don't demean any other human being by giving them." She lived by these words.
- Bridget Chisenga received access to antiretroviral medications through the PEPFAR-funded AIDSRelief program and is now able to continue her efforts to support AIDS relief efforts in Zambia.
Integrated Health Services
- Keziah Kapesa is a registered nurse-midwife who advocates the integration of HIV testing and family planning (FP) services in Tanzania. Working closely with local communities, she has brought awareness to decisionmakers about the public's need and desire for the integration of HIV and FP services.
- Nfila Chalebiwa Chikadze's background as the District AIDS Coordinator managing HIV/AIDS activities at the national and district levels and her experience practicing as a community health nurse and midwife give her a valuable perspective for managing integrated service delivery in Botswana.
Maternal and Child Health
- In Guatemala, Pabla Moreno Milian and many other young women are working to reduce maternal mortality in their communities. These exceptional leaders, known as Mayan auxiliary nurse-midwives, are involved in a program developed to place skilled birth attendants in remote Mayan communities, where a lack of acceptance of modern obstetric techniques remains a threat.
- Dr. Ivonne Gómez is a pediatrician who is leading a USAID-funded initiative to improve the quality of health care for severely ill and malnourished children in Nicaragua.
- For Dr. Sudha Basnet, newborn health has always been an important part of her work as a pediatrician. She is working to introduce and expand international best practices on newborn care in Nepal – a country challenged to help and save newborns, who are often born at home without assistance from a skilled birth attendant.
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