‘Women leaders faring better in coronavirus battle’

Health experts point out that 75 per cent of medical workers across the globe are women

KARACHI: Female health experts underlined on Sunday the need for increased participation of women in the fight against the coronavirus, highlighting that regions where women were in leadership roles had dealt with the crisis better.

These views were expressed during an international online webinar titled 'Women and Covid-19: Correlation and Causation,' jointly organised by the Pakistan Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Society, the Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan and Getz Pharma.

Speaking on the occasion, eminent health expert Dr Sharmila Sachithanandan from Malaysia observed that at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, where most male leaders across the world downplayed its risks and delayed taking decisions regarding the pandemic, women leaders didn't shy away from taking bold steps, considered the advice of health experts and other relevant persons and made timely decisions.

"As a results, thousands of lives were saved in New Zealand, Norway, Denmark and Taiwan [all of which have women leaders]," she remarked, adding that daily activities were also less affected in these countries. "This shows that we need more women in leadership role."

Dr Sachithanandan also maintained that 75 per cent of healthcare staff across the world comprised females, deploring that just seven per cent were serving in leadership positions.

Renowned gastroenterologist Dr Lubna Kamani went on to say that women healthcare professionals were playing an important role in fighting the pandemic on the frontlines in countries across the world, including Pakistan, where, she said, 80 to 90 per cent of healthcare staff comprised women.

Dr Kamani further pointed out that the pandemic posed more challenges for pregnant women and the matter needed to be addressed.

"Pregnant women are at higher risk of contracting respiratory diseases including Covid-19," concurred Dr Majidah Abdulfattah Bukhari from Saudi Arabia, elaborating that while vertical transmission of Covid-19 during pregnancy was unlikely, in some cases, infants were found to contract the coronavirus right after birth and hence, expecting mothers needed to practice more precaution.

Dr Aun Young Kim from South Korea, Dr Simone Guaraldi from Brazil, Dr Amrita Sethi from the United States and other health experts invited to the webinar, too, called for a more proactive role for women in dealing with the coronavirus crisis.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2020.