<p>Did you know that 67% of the global health and social care workforce are women? Women healthcare workers contribute towards the physical, mental, and social well-being of an estimated 5 billion people worldwide, yet are often undervalued and underpaid for their roles, according to the <a href="https://www.who.int/activities/value-gender-and-equity-in-the-global-health-workforce" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Health Organisation (WHO)</a>. </p>
<p>For International Women’s Day 2023, we spoke with 3 international healthcare professionals actively working towards gender equity. Through these conversations, it became clear that work is needed for women to have equal opportunities and recognition in the workplace – but our Members remain optimistic about a brighter future. Learn about their experiences and insightful perspectives on life as women in healthcare as they strive for an inclusive environment where all can thrive professionally.</p>
<p><strong>Ready to be inspired? Meet:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><a href="#Hayley">Hayley Lange McGuire</a></li>
<li><a href="#Nusaiba">Dr. Nusaiba Mahmoud</a></li>
<li><a href="#Hateem">Hateem Bakhsh</a></li>
</ol>
<p></p>
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<h2>1. Hayley Lange McGuire</h2>
<h3>🇦🇺 Australian registered pediatric nurse & midwife in Dubai, UAE 🇦🇪</h3>
<p><em>“I would encourage any woman or any young girl, considering a midwifery career, or even a nursing career to just go for it.”</em></p>
<h3 id="Hayley">How do you embrace gender equity?</h3>
<p>I think the most important part of gender equity for women is understanding the differences between men and women and making sure that we know that with those differences, we can still provide equality on a level of knowing yourself as a woman, knowing your attributes, your core values, and ethics. Standing true within that will allow the position of power to be equal so that we can assert ourselves in any position, wherever it might be.</p>
<h3>Tell us about your experiences working in healthcare.</h3>
<p>It can be really difficult as a female nurse or midwife to walk into a clinical setting or a hospital where predominantly it might be male-dominated consultants or doctors. The position of power seems to have shifted a little bit. It’s about trying to stand on your own and know yourself, knowing what you have to bring to the table and understanding that “I do have the education, the experience, the value, and something to add to this.” But a shift in inequality will only happen if we stand up.</p>
<h3>What would you say to women considering a healthcare career?</h3>
<p>Especially in midwifery, it takes a village, and we need a village to make sure that maternity services across the globe are midwifery lead, and we can’t do it if we don’t have women entering this profession. We can’t do it if the staff are not there. We’re finding now, especially in nursing and midwifery, a lot of burnout. I would encourage any woman or any young girl, considering a midwifery career, or even a nursing career to just go for it. It’s got a huge scope as well. You don’t have to be clinical; you don’t have to work in a hospital. You can go out in the field. The United Nations has wonderful job opportunities, and it will give you a chance to explore the world.</p>
<h2>2. Dr. Nusaiba Mahmoud </h2>
<h3>🇸🇩 Sudanese Orthodontist senior specialist in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦</h3>
<p><em>“I always say that you should go for what you want because being in the job that you love is rewarding. You can easily balance your work and your life.”</em></p>
<h3 id="Nusaiba">What makes you passionate about women having thriving careers?</h3>
<p>For me, it comes from my parents. They were both healthcare workers – my mom was a pharmacist, now retired, and my dad is a gynecologist. My mom was a working mom. She had to raise five kids while also doing her job. We have always seen that as the norm. It was normal for her to have a job, the same as my father. So, for me, this can be done. I mean look at me. Here I am right now with both of my parents who had full-time jobs, and I think I turned out pretty great.</p>
<h3>What prompted you to embark on a career in dentistry?</h3>
<p>At one point, I was going to give up on my dream but, I found this letter that I wrote when I was a 13 year old girl to myself, that one of my aspiring careers is to become a dentist. So, that got me back on track and it grounded me. And here I am.</p>
<h3>How would you describe life as a woman in healthcare?</h3>
<p>The most important thing that I’ve learned as a female healthcare worker is to balance my work and my life – that is critical, and it’s important. Managing your time — that’s the key. </p>
<h3>Would you recommended women to pursue a career in healthcare? </h3>
<p>I always say that you should go for what you want because being in the job that you love is rewarding. You can easily balance your work and your life. Just choose the right company, choose the right working hours, and then you will find yourself. Be more productive and don’t burn yourself out. That’s what I say. When you know how to manage that time, you can do anything.</p>
<h2>3. Hateem Bakhsh </h2>
<h3>🇵🇰 Pakistani psychiatry doctor in England, UK 🇬🇧</h3>
<p><em>“I think we should all listen to anyone who is not speaking, and we should involve them in the conversations we are having.”</em></p>
<h3 id="Hateem">What is the most important piece of career advice that you have been given?</h3>
<p>I was told by my supervisor when I started working to be humble and be patient, which I believe are the keys to not only a successful career, but a successful life as well.</p>
<h3>How do you think we can help each other embrace gender equity in the workplace? </h3>
<p>I don’t keep quiet about insensitive comments or remarks – I speak up for myself. I started speaking up for my right, and I’ve started listening. Everyone listens to a loud voice, but I believe nobody listens to a quiet voice. I think we should all listen to anyone who is not speaking, and we should involve them in the conversations we are having.</p>
<h3>Do you have any motivating words for International Women’s Day?</h3>
<p>What I really urge every other woman to do is to support and help all the women around them – socially, economically, educationally, politically, and culturally – as much as they can help so we, together, can flourish and empower each other.</p>
<p>I would also like to give a shoutout to all the women out there for being the strongest version of themselves. I would definitely advise them to never settle for less. There will be a lot of people who will be telling you to compromise – I’m going to tell them no! You can do whatever you want.</p>
<h2>Final Words</h2>
<p>Gender equity in healthcare is the key to building resilient health systems and gender-transformative health and social care policies. </p>
<p>To combat the global health worker shortage, healthcare organizations and employers must recognize and reward women’s invaluable contributions to the population’s physical, mental, and social well-being and create an environment that is free from all forms of gender equity, such as discrimination and harassment, including the gender pay gap, and the limited number of women in leadership roles. By doing so, we can make quality healthcare available for everyone. </p>
<p>Let’s <strong>#EmbraceEquity</strong> for International Women’s Day 2023 and beyond! </p>
<h3>Would you like to kickstart your international healthcare career?</h3>
<p>Women are making incredible strides in the healthcare field and creating inspiring stories for us all to follow! Hayley, Nusaiba, and Hateem are great examples of how you can enjoy a thriving healthcare career overseas. </p>
<p>Don’t miss out on an opportunity that you’ve been dreaming of – create your FREE Digital CV today with TrueProfile.io and boost your chances of getting noticed by prospective international employers and recruiters.</p>
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