Global Women's Health
Around 830 women die daily from childbirth, with 94% of these deaths occurring in low-income countries. In the U.S., Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women face pregnancy-related deaths 2-3 times higher than white women. These disparities are the result of social, cultural, political, and systemic barriers which can and should be prevented.
This complex problem calls for a visionary and sustainable approach that leverages assets across our university: the collective wisdom of our interprofessional teams in academia, community healthcare champions, and the people we serve.
To address these challenges, the Global Women’s Health Initiative was created in 2020 within the Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility.
“When you invest in women, they invest in their communities. You can’t do women's health work with clinical care alone; the care needs to extend beyond the walls of healthcare institutions to address the larger determinants of health. And it needs to be done by communities, for communities.”
Rahel Nardos, Director of Global Women's Health
Learn more about Rahel Nardos, inaugural director of global women’s health
Fistula: A Film to Promote Better Maternal Health Care Globally
CGHSR's Global Women's Health Initiative is committed to preventing obstetric fistula through global partnerships that strengthen maternal healthcare and expand access to comprehensive, holistic treatment for those affected. In a recently released short film, CGHSR highlights the profound physical and emotional toll of obstetric fistula and advocates for greater awareness and resources, showing the life-changing impact that compassionate, effective care can have.
Our Programs
Since establishing the portfolio in 2020, we’ve partnered to create a number of programs and events around global women’s health.
Photo by Joni Kabana
Global Women’s Health Discovery Fund
We’ve created a new fund to support expansion of the global women’s health portfolio. By making a gift you are supporting capacity-building with local and global partners, health equity-focused engagement and educational activities including work by students, residents, staff, and faculty.