“Think equal, build smart, innovate for change”

Every day, women across Africa take on the well-being as well as the diseases, the fevers, the pains and the distress of millions of lives. On International Women’s Day, when we are being encouraged to “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change” to advance the empowerment of women in social protection systems and access to public services, we know that in health care, women are changing the landscape. On this day especially, but as we do every day, we at the World Health Organization salute the commitment, the dedication, the professionalism, the grace and the guts of these women in health work, many of whom put their life on the line to help others.