On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) celebrates the initiatives and partnerships supporting the health of women living in developing countries and fragile contexts. This commitment aims to remove the barriers that still limit gender equality, particularly with regard to access to quality healthcare services.
“Improving living conditions, promoting autonomy and creating the foundations for genuine empowerment are central elements of action for gender equality. This work also recognizes the decisive impact that social norms and stereotypes have on disease prevention and access to health services,” emphasized the Director of the Agency, Marco Riccardo Rusconi.
In this field, Italian Development Cooperation promotes initiatives that strengthen the institutions of partner countries and their health systems. These interventions aim to improve the skills of health professionals and support legislative reforms in line with international best practices. At the same time, communities are actively involved in promoting lasting change and removing gender-based barriers, ensuring that everyone can fully exercise their right to health.
Italy finances numerous programmes aimed at strengthening health services and local capacities, contributing to the creation of more equitable societies where health and dignity are truly accessible to all.
The regional initiative “Creation of a Health Network in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda” collegamento ipertestuale has strengthened 34 facilities—12 in Kenya, 10 in Tanzania and 12 in Uganda—improving access to and the quality of maternal and child health services. Activities included training for medical and paramedical staff, community awareness initiatives, the provision of equipment, and the introduction of innovative services such as mobile ultrasound units.
In Senegal, the Resource Groups established within the project “Being a Woman” collegamento ipertestuale, implemented by the Centre for Global Health and COSPE, create safe spaces for dialogue among women, aimed at fostering female empowerment and promoting a greater exercise of sexual and reproductive health rights.
In Ethiopia, the project VERSO, implemented by Amref collegamento ipertestuale, strengthens access to and the quality of services addressing gender-based violence and mental health, particularly in conflict-affected regions, contributing to the creation of sustainable foundations for recovery.
In Palestine, under the RING initiative, the “Pink October” collegamento ipertestuasle campaign was promoted. In addition to providing free diagnostic screenings, the campaign carried out health education activities to encourage breast self-examination, promote healthy lifestyles and raise awareness about the importance of early diagnosis. Thanks to the growing involvement of men in awareness-raising activities, a slow but steady positive change is being observed.
“Change becomes possible when institutions, communities and professionals work together through an integrated and rights-based approach. Through health sector interventions, the objective is not only to improve health indicators but also to address inequalities in a structural way. The empowerment of women, girls and young girls is an essential condition for eradicating poverty and building more just, inclusive and sustainable societies,” noted Annamaria Iotti, Head of the Human Development Office of the Agency.