Research and gender equity advocates are convening in Kenya’s capital for a three-day conference on enhancing women’s leadership in Kenya’s health sector. The meeting, convened by the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), in partnership with Global Health 50/50 (UK) and the International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW-India), is the culmination of a four-year study aimed at understanding efforts made so far in addressing gender disparities in leadership within the country’s health sector. The study titled ‘Gendered Health Sector: Career Pathways’ shows the persistent underrepresentation of women in leadership roles despite their significant presence in the healthcare workforce.
The research focuses on the urgent need for gender equality in Kenya’s health industry leadership roles. Women make up more than 70% of the worldwide healthcare workforce, but their presence in leadership positions remains disproportionately low. This study is an important step in understanding and addressing the barriers to women’s advancement in healthcare leadership.
Dr. Sylvia Muyingo, a research scientist and biostatistician, stated: “There is a significant gap in evidence on effective strategies for achieving inclusive and equitable career progression in the health sector. Gender is just one of many facets of identity that contribute to discrimination within this field. Although the Constitution of Kenya protects characteristics such as sex, age, ethnicity, and disability, there is a lack of workforce data segmented by these categories, hindering efforts to create equal opportunities for marginalized women.”
Hon. Harriette Chiggai, the President’s Advisor on Women’s Rights, said, “We must collectively push for the legislation of anti-discrimination laws to protect women in Kenya from harassment, bias, unfair treatment, and unequal leadership roles at the workplace. At the same time, ensuring adequate maternity and paternity leave policies will support women in balancing their career and family responsibilities. My office is currently spearheading a review of all laws that are discriminatory against women to work towards amending, repealing, and/or enacting laws that guarantee specific rights to women.”
The event featured a series of panel discussions and networking sessions to empower women to take on leadership positions and drive systemic change within the health sector. It will also present a digital platform developed to raise awareness about gender equality in health leadership, featuring policy recommendations and advocacy strategies. This platform contains policy briefs, blog posts, videos, and factsheets and provides valuable resources for stakeholders committed to fostering gender-inclusive leadership in healthcare.
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Note to Editors
About APHRC: The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a premier research-to-policy institution, generating evidence, strengthening research and related capacity in the African research and development ecosystem, and engaging policy to inform action on health and development. The Center is Africa-based and African-led, with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and a West Africa Regional Office (WARO) in Dakar, Senegal. APHRC seeks to drive change by developing strong African research leadership and promoting evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) across sub-Saharan Africa.
For more information about the Women in Leadership Dissemination Event and to access the event materials, please visit: https://aphrc.org/announcements/pathways-to-equality-advancing-womens-leadership-in-health/.
Media Contact:
Christine Ger Ochola, Communications Officer Email: cochola@aphrc.org