The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has officially launched a Gender Equity Team by announcing the recruitment of our new Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion – GEDSI Coordinator, Ms Pasepa Hugo.
Ms Pasepa comes to the Ministry with a strong background in public health relations and development partnership management, alongside health service delivery experience.
She will provide support to the Ministry of Health noting that the pursuit of gender equality and women’s leadership is one of the Ministry’s national priority. Her recruitment is supported by the Solomon Islands Australia Health Partnership.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is dedicated to making health services equitable and inclusive for all Solomon Islanders.
This means ensuring that women, men, young people, people with disabilities, and those in remote communities can access the care they need, when they need it.
Under the leadership of Permanent Secretary Ms Pauline McNeil, this team will reflect an exciting step forward in putting gender equity and women’s voices at the centre of decision-making across the health system and in creating a new chapter in the Ministry’s progress for women leadership but with the support of our male colleagues in the health sector.
“Women make up almost 70% of the workforce but less than one percent in leadership roles and decision-making platforms.
“But together with our male counterparts in the health sector, we can advocate and create the environment for women to take up leadership roles, ensure that both our women and men have equal and fair opportunities that allow them to grow and develop in their jobs so that we call together advance gender equity to build a health system that delivers a healthier, fairer, and more inclusive for all,” Ms McNeil said.
– MHMS
Lead photo caption: Permanent Secretary Health Ms. Pauline McNeil, center, and Solomon Islands Australia Health Partnership GEDSI Coordinator, Ms. Pasepa Hugo together with GEDSI & Safeguards Leader Ms. Emily Seaman.
