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Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu: Addressing gender-specific health disparities with WEF Global Alliance for Women’s Health

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu/LinkedIn

Mar 12, 2025, 08:26

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu: Addressing gender-specific health disparities with WEF Global Alliance for Women’s Health

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, UICC President-Elect of 2024-2026, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“The global landscape has been profoundly impacted by a series of crises, from the Covid-19 pandemic to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza, all of which have had far-reaching economic consequences. Recently, the withdrawal of U.S. funding from numerous global health programs has further destabilized the system, exacerbating the already significant shortfall in funding for women’s health initiatives.

In this context, campaigns like the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Alliance for Women’s Health, which addresses gender-specific health disparities, are more critical than ever. This year’s theme, “A lifetime of health and prosperity: Uplifting adolescent girls and breaking cycles of poverty,” aligns with the celebration of International Women’s Day and underscores the urgent need to focus on the well-being of adolescent girls.

Adolescent girls constitute 16% of the global population, yet they face disproportionate challenges. In low-income countries, one in four girls is out of school, and one in five is married before the age of 18. Additionally, adolescent girls are at a heightened risk of early pregnancy, with nearly 16 million giving birth each year, often encountering life-threatening complications. These issues have profound implications, not only for their health but also for their ability to participate in and contribute to the economy.

Empowering adolescent girls through education, healthcare, and economic opportunities is essential to breaking the cycle of poverty and fostering a more equitable future. Research shows that each additional year of education for a girl can increase her future income by 20%, and investments in their development can yield up to a tenfold return in economic benefits.

By prioritizing the health and education of adolescent girls, we can create a ripple effect that uplifts communities, strengthens economies, and ensures a brighter future for generations to come. Efforts to address these challenges must be intensified, and global collaboration is crucial to achieving meaningful progress.”