The Ministry of Health with the support of PAHO implements the second plan for gender mainstreaming – PAHO/WHO

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, March 8, 2022 (Pan American Health Organization). – The Ministry of Public Health has implemented the Plan for Mainstreaming a Gender Approach into the National Health System (PlanTEGS II) 2022-2030, with the support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), with the aim of contributing to the well-being of the population with a focus on reducing gender gaps and health inequalities.

The same was presented, through the Department of Gender Equality, during a ceremony chaired by Dr. Eladio Perez, Deputy Minister of Collective Health, on the occasion of the observance of this year’s International Women’s Day under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.

The initiative seeks to apply a gender approach across all functions, structures, levels and procedures of the national health system to help progressively reduce gender gaps and health inequalities.

The representative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Oliver Renfo, highlighted the efforts of the Ministry of Health to reach a consensus document with various sectors.

“PAHO/WHO salutes and congratulates the Ministry of Public Health on the launch of this plan, an attempt to lead the coordination of the Department of Gender Equality. The idea is to contribute to the well-being of the population, with a focus on reducing gender gaps and health inequalities, elements that They are incorporated into their strategic goals,” Ronvo said.

While Dr Eladio Pérez, Deputy Minister of Collective Health, appreciated the hard work of women in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as admirable.

“We appreciate the work of the Gender Department in preparing this implementation plan across the national sphere, through all health system functions and structures, in the context of quality care and humanitarian practices, focusing on the first level of care, focusing on special needs by life cycle,” he said. Dr. Perez.

Meanwhile, when explaining the scope of the document, Dr. Indiana Barinas, in charge of the Gender Division, stated that the strategic objectives of the Gender Mainstreaming in Health plan are to ensure that gender equality and equity approaches are included in regulatory frameworks. and in the processes of organizing supervision, to contribute to the continuous improvement of the quality of health interventions.

At the same time, he suggested the inclusion of the topic of “care” in social security, since many women, especially adolescent girls, are limited in their ability to study and work, because they must devote themselves to the care of family members.

“Gender inequality must be viewed from its social context, in a strategic way, assume non-discrimination, to give answers to these problems, postulate a framework for access to the health system, go deep into the roots, and postulate solutions according to the diagnosis. .At the same time, look at the indicators that influence On women and men and issues such as ‘care’ should take over Social Security.”

She stated that the plan focuses on achieving the highest health standards and complying with national and institutional goals towards gender equality and ensuring the right to health “towards strengthening the policy of gender mainstreaming in health”.

The document is part of the current processes of health sector reform, with the adoption of the new model of care and the approach based on social determinants of health, which urges gender mainstreaming and analysis of priority problems that prevent equitable access to health services.

The work was also appreciated by the UNFPA representative in the country, Sonia Vázquez, Eduard Guzmán, Deputy Minister, and Miguel Rodríguez Viñas, Director of Planning and Development of the Strategic Plan Project, who expressed their satisfaction with the role that women play in the social management plan.

Thanks and appreciation

As part of the activities to celebrate International Women’s Day, many prominent women in the regional health directorates who have contributed positively to the health and human rights system, through their commitment and actions in various health fields, were honored. women in the country.

At the same time, workshops were organized to promote gender equality and equity as a health-related factor, through social mobilization and promotion actions in the community, coordinated by DPS/DAS.

International Women’s Day

The theme chosen by the United Nations for International Women’s Day 2022 is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”; In line with the priority theme of the sixty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66).

Meanwhile, during the event, the annual Pan American Health Organization video was shown as part of the celebration of International Women’s Day.