Press Release : Addressing Gender Inequalities in Health Leadership: A Call to Action by Women in Global Health Zambia

The recently concluded Women Deliver Conference held in Kigali, Rwanda, marked a pivotal moment for the global health community. A resounding call to action emerged, urging health organizations and associations to take concrete steps towards enhancing substantive participation of women in leadership and decision-making roles. Women in Global Health Zambia (WGH Zambia) echoes this call and brings attention to the pressing issue of gender imbalances in health leadership.
Despite women constituting over 70% of the global health workforce, with a substantial 90% representing nurses and midwives, the prevailing health leadership landscape remains disproportionately male-dominated. Women in Global Health Zambia has diligently observed this disparity, which is particularly pronounced within lower levels of the public health system in Zambia. District and provincial health leadership positions are overwhelmingly occupied by men, a situation that calls for immediate attention.
In May, WGH Zambia conducted a poll aimed at assessing the presence of women in district and provincial health leadership roles. Shockingly, the findings indicated a severe underrepresentation of women in these positions. Out of the 99 districts that responded, only 13% reported female leadership, while provincial health leadership displayed a staggering 10% female representation.
A recent example that starkly highlights this disparity is the election of a predominantly-male executive committee to lead the Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) until 2025. The election, occurring during the annual Zambia Medical Association meeting, exemplifies the persistent gender inequities in the Zambian public health sector's leadership landscape. This situation underscores the gap between commitments to gender transformation and the actual implementation of strategies aimed at fostering gender-responsive health systems.
It is imperative to address these concerning trends. The lack of women's representation in health leadership not only disregards valuable expertise and experiences but also fails to harness the deep understanding of community health needs possessed by female health workers, most of whom are frontline caregivers. It is time to overcome the obstacles that prevent women from occupying leadership roles in the health sector and to remove the gendered barriers that persist.
Cultural norms continue to hinder women's ability to be recognized as effective leaders. Leadership, traditionally associated with masculinity, remains a socialized concept that inhibits the election of women into leadership positions. This phenomenon weakens our health system by silencing the voices of a significant portion of the workforce dedicated to service delivery. It also deprives younger women and girls of visible role models in leadership.
The pressing health challenges we face today necessitate a gender-transformative approach to fortify our public health institutions. Gender power imbalances within these institutions can give rise to an environment conducive to harassment and exploitation. By advocating for balanced and gender-sensitive leadership structures, we have the opportunity to create safer work environments for female health workers, thus fostering an inclusive global health space for all.
WGH Zambia calls upon institutions, which are part of the global health community, to confront these gender disparities head on. We believe that a lack of diversity within leadership structures should not be excused by organizational policies. It's time to revisit and adapt these policies to ensure a gender-transformative environment that resonates with the global drive for equity and diversity.
For more information about Women in Global Health Zambia and our mission to address gender inequities in health, please visit our website at www.womeningh.org and www.womeningh.org.zm

Women in Global Health, Zambia Chapter
Lusaka, Zambia