International Women's Day – March 8, 2011

Source: Stock Photo

March 8, 2011, marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, which provides a global platform to focus attention on the continued need to improve women’s status and opportunities all over the world. Because of their roles in raising families, providing and seeking care, and managing household needs, the health of women is fundamental to healthy communities. And because healthy, productive communities are essential for global economic growth and regional security, the health of women is critical to global prosperity. The theme for International Women’s Day 2011 is “Equal Access to Education, Training and Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for Women.” Because good health correlates with access to education, agriculture, food security, child survival, economic opportunities, family welfare, and the environment, investing in health programs that benefit women has a direct impact on these objectives.

Women Making a Difference in Global Health

Launched on International Women’s Day 2008; USAID’s Women Making a Difference in Global Health series highlights women whose work through USAID-supported projects has had a positive impact on the health and lives of other women, families, and communities. Read profiles of powerful women who make strong contributions in the best ways they can, and USAID is proud to honor them.

HIV/AIDS

	After enrolling in a unique halfway house program for young HIV-positive drug addicts, provided through the HIV Youth Prevention Alliance, a USAID-supported public-partnership, Anna was given a second chance in life and a better shot at a stable future.
	Effective prevention of mother-to-child transmission allows women like Aberu Hailu to take control of their own health and deliver healthy HIV-negative babies.
	A commercial sex worker, Yeshi Sheferaw has learned to put her health first. USAID’s Targeted HIV/AIDS Prevention Program with funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief works to promote consistent and correct use of condoms in areas of Ethiopia where HIV prevalence is highest.
	With help from the USAID Dialogue on HIV and TB Project, Anna, a single mom and former commercial sex worker from a small town near Kyrgyzstan, was able to turn her life around and has become a strong advocate and outreach worker.
	Gwynn Stevens committed herself to making lifesaving technologies accessible to those who need them most. Over her years-long tenure at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), a USAID-funded public-private partnership dedicated to developing an effective, accessible preventive AIDS vaccine, Gwynn has helped to establish a respected clinical laboratory network across the continent, enabling African scientists and partners to conduct first-rate clinical trials in Africa.
	In Swaziland, a country with the highest HIV prevalence rate anywhere in the world, the aggressive response of the country’s Ministry of Health – working with USAID and private implementing organizations – provides services for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Unfortunately, some women and their children still slip through the cracks, like Zanele and her first baby, Tema.

Family Planning

	In parts of rural Benin, girls frequently become victims of trafficking and GBV, being sold by their families to the man who offers the highest bid. For 20 years, Sister Toussou has dedicated herself to saving young women and girls from the traditional practice of forced marriage through the Saint Maria Goretti Center. With support from USAID, Sister Maria is able to welcome all the girls who come in need of her help.
	Beatrice Delva is one of many women working to improve the use of contraception and the high rate of maternal mortality in Haiti. A mother of two, she has been working for three years in commodity security and management under the USAID-funded Leadership, Management & Sustainability Project.
	After attending Arab Women Speak Out, a program which is a part of the USAID’s Jordan Health Communication Partnership project, Amal began to take charge of her life. Discussing topics like the Arab women’s roles and responsibilities in modern times, future planning, men and women’s participation in family planning and family health issues, safe maternal and child health, and healthy lifestyles opened up a new world of possibilities.

Maternal and Child Health

	At 15, following 6 days of prolonged and obstructed labor, Agaicha developed an obstetric fistula which she would suffer from for the next two-years. Through the USAID Fistula Care Project, Agaicha was able to finally receive treatment and now shares her story to raise awareness about this condition in the villages.
	Nazia Bibi is among more than 2,200 young women across Pakistan who have completed 18 months of USAID-supported training in midwifery, and have been equipped with close to $1,000 worth of equipment and supplies to ensure safe deliveries.
	USAID’s Health Services Support Project is supporting the Ministry of Public Health to deliver community-based interventions that protect women from the risk of postpartum hemorrhage when delivering at home without assistance from a skilled provider, like Bibi Gul Jamal who works tirelessly as a community health worker to improve the health of women in her village.
	For years, Kima Hassen Adem suffered from fistula – an abnormal opening between a woman’s vagina and bladder or rectum (or both) – and experienced stigma and discrimination in her daily life. Kima finally received treatment at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, with all expenses covered by USAID’s Integrated Family Health Program.

Nutrition

After a visit from a community facilitator, Gladys Soto participated in a year long training program provided by the Mejores Familias Program. Last year she was recruited as a field facilitator by Fundazúcar, the organization that implements Mejores Familias, where she delivers training on best practices in nutrition, women’s empowerment, and does growth monitoring for children aged 5 and under.

The USAID Urban Gardens Program (USAID UGP) focuses on the health of women and children affected by HIV/AIDS and trains gardeners in growing vegetables, post-production, and marketing. For Genet Bayesa, the group garden in her hometown helped after the death of her sister to HIV/AIDS, caused her to not only be faced with raising her own two children, but also to come up with the money for nutritionaly rich food to keep her HIV-positive toddler niece alive.

Health Systems Strengthening

	Lusik Yeritsyan, who was slowing losing her eyesight due to cataracts, was examined by a doctor when the Mobile Eye Hospital (MEH) of the joint USAID/Armenia Eyecare Project Global Development Alliance initiative visited her village for eye screenings and treatment. After a successful surgery, Lusik is now counting her “days of light.”
	USAID’s Project NOVA fosters community mobilization to improve primary health care conditions in Armenia’s remote areas. Thanks to the village mayor’s leadership and enthusiasm, the community of Voskepar is now able to receive health care services in the village’s renovated health post.

Read archived stories from the Women Making a Difference in Global Health Series.

USAID and Women's Health Source: Stock Photo USAID has long shown its commitment to advancing the health and welfare of women and girls, which helps build stronger communities and nations. The Agency’s Global Health Bureau investments in women began in the 1960s with the launch of family planning programs then broadened over the years to include maternal and child health and programs in nutrition, disease prevention and care, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, health care training, elimination of gender-based violence, and more. In the developing world, the last decade has seen great strides for women in the countries where USAID works: Married women of reproductive age using a modern method of contraception increased to 27 percent. The demand satisfied for contraception improved from 39 percent to 43 percent. Births spaced at least 36 months apart, from 41 to 46 percent Drop in average family size from six to four. MMR declined from 526, 300 in 1990 to 342,900 in 2005. Abortion rates have declined in countries where use of modern contraceptives has increased. Women’s participation in government has increased and their involvement in the workforce has grown. Last year, USAID contributed to a major advancement that both empowers and helps protect women: research that revealed the first-ever proof of concept that a microbicide can effectively and safely reduce HIV transmission in women. If results are confirmed in further studies, women all over the world could have access to a prevention method that saves lives and ultimately changes the course of HIV’s history.

Additional Resources

• Celebrating 100 Years of Progress - Women in Development
  USAID is committed to providing development assistance that improves the lives of women, men, and children around the world. USAID has a special interest in the advancement of women worldwide, and the Agency is working to improve women's equality and empowerment.
  • Calendar of Events
    
    
• 2011 World’s Women & Girls Data Sheet [PDF, 684KB]
  The World’s Women and Girls 2011 Data Sheet presents the latest data on a wide variety of indicators on the socio-economic status of women and girls in more than 180 countries, with a focus on demography, reproductive health, education, work, and public life. A special section on overcoming barriers to gender equality is also featured. The data sheet will be available on PRB’s website (www.prb.org) to commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8.
  
  
• Press
  • IMPACTblog: How Will We Shape the Next One-Hundred International Women's Days? - 03/018/11
  • USAID Commemorates 2011 International Women's Day - 03/08/11
  • FrontLines February/March 2011: Women In Development