Women Take Frontline In COVID Fight

This year’s International Women’s Day is like no other.

The theme is #ChooseToChallenge .

Meanwhile, as countries and communities start to slowly recover from a devastating pandemic, there is chance to finally end the exclusion and marginalisation of women and girls.

But to do that, immediate action is needed. Women must have the opportunity to play a full role in shaping the pivotal decisions being made right now as countries respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic choices that will affect the wellbeing of people and the planet for generations to come.

Ministry of Health COVID-19 general manager Dr Anaseini Maisema Tabua said with all the changes the pandemic has brought globally, women’s full potential and effective participation in decision making was also important.

“Our contribution is essential because we equally have the intelligence, the passion and heart to contribute to decisions that are important for our country,” Dr Tabua said.

“Women must always have their voice heard and what we are thinking about. I always think that for us women we speak for our children, for our elderly parents, for everyone and everything,” she said.

“We tend to think of everyone and everything when we are talking about a subject. Some might think we overthink, but it’s just natural for women to think like that. They say because women will think of everybody in the society rather than a few.”

Dr Tabua has been working in the public health division of MoH for 14 years and during that time she has served four provinces as sub-divisional medical officer.

“It is a humbling experience to be the general manager, having the MoH leaders’ trust and confidence,” she said.