Nothing for us without us.

As a World Economic Forum Champion of the Global Alliance for Women’s Health, and ahead of International Women’s Day 2025, I am proud to take part in the #World Economic Forum 5 Days of Activism to amplify and centre women’s voices in shaping health policies and solutions.

Women’s health remains underfunded, under-researched, and under-prioritised. Despite living longer, women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health than men, with 75 million healthy years lost annually due to gaps in care, research, and investment.

Yet, addressing just nine key health conditions could unlock $400 billion in global GDP annually by 2040, demonstrating that closing the women’s health gap is not only a moral imperative but an economic necessity.

Women must lead the discussions and decisions that affect their health. From bodily autonomy to healthcare equity and pathways out of poverty, I proudly support the UN Women #ForAllWomenAndGirls campaign to ensure that every woman’s voice is heard and valued, particularly in the lead-up to the sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

At the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, we continue to champion this cause, ensuring that women are not just beneficiaries of health policies, but co-creators of the solutions that shape their lives.

Watch The Champions for Women’s Health video, first launched at Davos 2025, highlights the urgent need to prioritise women’s health as both a human rights and global development issue.