PROF. Hadiza Galadanci BUK Gets Heroine Of Health 2023 Award

The Heroines of Health Awards were established by Women in Global Health, a non-governmental, non partisan organization in 2017 as a powerful platform to amplify the exceptional contribution to the health sector by women.

Speaking at the award night in Kigali, Rwanda, on Wednesday, 19th July 2023, the Executive Director and co-founder of Women in Global Health, Dr. Roopa Dhatt explained that women are the majority of the health workforce globally and whose contributions are hardly recognised.

"Women drive and deliver health but their contributions often remain invisible and under-recognized.

 This year, we are recognizing the contribution of women health workers in Africa in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights, which are key to guaranteeing the health and bodily autonomy of girls and women and achieving health for all," she revealed.

According to the Executive Director, the award was being hosted for the first time in Africa and twelve eminent women in health sectors were identified and honoured.

The awardees who were extraordinary women represent the heart and soul of health in Africa and include Community Health Workers, midwives, doctors, nurses and gender advocates. 

Dr Dhatt noted that now, more than ever, the world is in  a critical juncture for gender equality, and by raising the visibility and achievements of women workers, it is expected to drive transformative change for equality in leadership, safe and decent working conditions,  as well as  fair and equal pay.

In earning the award, Professor Hadiza Shehu Galadanci, who was nominated by Federation of International Gynecologists (FIGO) for the award recognizes her efforts at bringing a unique perspective and expertise and is making an invaluable contribution to realizing the right to health for women and girls especially and to achieving Universal Health Coverage in Africa.

In Nigeria, a country with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, Professor Hadiza Galadanci dedicated herself to improving the health care services especially in relation to maternal mortality, thus has made it her mission to transform maternal healthcare, which makes her unique and an exceptional health worker in the country to get this international recognition," she advanced.

The recipient who was the first woman consultant gynecologist and Professor of Medicine in the region of Kano, has dedicated her life to reducing maternal and child mortality rates, worked to combat gender disparities in health and has played pivotal role in shaping policies relating to critical maternal health challenges worldwide.

Professor Galadanci has authored over 100 publications in peer reviewed journals and played a leading role in more than 20 studies with WHO, MacArthur Foundation, FIGO, USAID, UNFPA and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

She has also been involved in global research that has the potential to change policies in addressing key maternal health challenges, such as the WHO Labour Care Guide, the E-Motive Trial to reduce deaths from childbirth related bleeding and the IVON Trial to prevent anemia in pregnant women in Nigeria.

She serves on the Steering Committee of the West Africa Health Organisation for reduction of Maternal Mortality, AlignMNH, a global initiative towards accelerated efforts to achieve SDG 3, TETFund National Research Fund and also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Medical Women’s Association, Engender Health Nigeria as well as the chair of the National Reproductive Health Working Group.

 Professor Galadanci had trained and mentored over 2000 medical students, residents and postgraduate students including regional African students.

In her speech shortly after receiving the award, which was presented to her by the Liberian Minister of Health, Dr. Wilhelmina S Jallah on behalf of the organizers, Professor  Galadanci who was one of the three medical doctors honoured in the continent, said she was really humbled and overwhelmed to make it to the list of 12 Heroines of Health 2023 in the African region which is a unique recognition.

"To say the least, I was surprised with this award, and this had really inspired me to redouble my commitment in the pursuit of addressing health challenges in the country, African region and the global arena. She particularly thanked FIGO who actually nominated her for the award out of numerous health workers across the globe.

The Heroines of Health 2023 award was bestowed on twelve health workers in Africa. 

The recipients were as follows:

Three Community Health Workers, three midwives, three doctors, two nurses and one specialist gender advocate. 

In 2017, Women in Global Health embarked  on a mission to acknowledge remarkable women who are driving change in global health.

This year, the organisation recognized the contribution of women health workers in Africa, advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights, which are key to guaranteeing the health and bodily autonomy of girls and women, and also key to achieving health for all.