International Women's Day
- Blessing Amatemeso
- Mar 8
- 6 min read
Rights. Justice. Action.
Investing in Women to Build a Better World
Every year on International Women's Day, celebrated on March 8, the world pauses to recognize the achievements of women while reflecting on the work that still remains in the pursuit of equality. What began as a labor movement in the early 20th century has evolved into a Global Day of Advocacy, celebration, and action for women’s rights across social, economic, cultural, and political spheres.
The theme highlighted by UN Women “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” reminds us that equality is not only about recognition but about ensuring women have real access to opportunities, protection, and participation in shaping society. The complementary idea of “Give to Gain” reinforces an important truth: when we invest in women, societies as a whole prosper.
International Women’s Day is therefore not merely symbolic. It is a call to action for governments, institutions, communities, and individuals to intentionally invest in women and girls.
Investing in women produces ripple effects that extend far beyond individual success. Research across countries consistently shows that when women thrive, families, communities, and economies benefit.
Some key areas of investment include:
Education.
Educating girls increases lifetime earnings, delays early marriage, and improves the health and education outcomes of future generations.
Economic empowerment
When women have access to financial resources, property rights, and entrepreneurial opportunities, households become more financially stable and communities experience economic growth.
Leadership and representation.
Women in leadership bring diverse perspectives to governance, policymaking, and corporate decision-making.
Safety and protection.
Investing in systems that prevent gender-based violence protects not only women but the social fabric of communities.
The gains are tangible: stronger economies, healthier families, better governance, and more resilient societies.
Investing in Women’s Health: A Foundation for Progress
If there is one area where investment yields profound and lasting returns, it is women’s health. Health is the foundation upon which education, economic participation, leadership, and family wellbeing are built. When women have access to quality healthcare, they are better able to contribute meaningfully to their households, communities, and national development.
Unfortunately, women’s health has historically been underfunded and, in some cases, misunderstood. Many conditions that primarily affect women receive less research attention, while cultural stigma often discourages open discussions about reproductive and menstrual health. Addressing these gaps requires intentional, sustained investment.
Key areas of investment in women’s health include:
Maternal health services and Safe Childbirth
Pregnancy and childbirth should be safe experiences, yet in many parts of the world women still face significant risks during delivery.
Investments in maternal healthcare include:
Access to skilled birth attendants
Quality antenatal and postnatal care
Emergency obstetric services
Safe blood supplies
Access to transportation and referral systems
When maternal health improves, the benefits extend beyond the mother. Infants are more likely to survive and thrive, families remain stable, and healthcare systems are strengthened.
Reducing maternal mortality through quality prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care saves lives and strengthens families.
Reproductive health access.
Reproductive health services allow women to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures. Access to contraception, fertility counselling, and reproductive health education enables women to plan pregnancies, pursue education, and maintain economic stability.
Investing in reproductive health helps:
Reduce unintended pregnancies
Lower maternal mortality
Improve child health outcomes
Increase women’s participation in education and the workforce
Equally important is menstrual health, which remains overlooked in many communities. Lack of access to menstrual products and education can affect girls’ school attendance and women’s workplace participation. Addressing menstrual health through affordable products, sanitation facilities, and education promotes dignity and opportunity.
Access to contraception, menstrual health resources, and reproductive education empowers women to make informed choices about their bodies and futures.
Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
Women often carry multiple roles as professionals, caregivers, partners, and community members. These responsibilities can create emotional and psychological strain, particularly when combined with societal expectations.
Mental health investment should include:
Access to counselling and psychological services
Workplace policies that support work-life balance
Support systems for postpartum depression and maternal mental health
Public campaigns to reduce stigma around seeking mental health care
Healthy minds are just as important as healthy bodies. When women receive mental health support, families and workplaces also benefit.
Women often carry multiple roles and emotional burdens. Accessible mental health services improve overall wellbeing.
Preventive Health and Early Screening
Preventive healthcare is one of the most cost-effective strategies for improving population health. For women, this includes regular screening and early detection of conditions such as:
Breast cancer
Cervical cancer
Hypertension
Diabetes
Osteoporosis
Early diagnosis dramatically increases survival rates and reduces treatment costs. Community awareness programs and accessible screening services can make a significant difference in outcomes.
Routine screening for conditions such as cervical cancer, breast cancer, and hypertension enables early detection and better outcomes.
Workplace health protections
Policies supporting maternity leave, safe working conditions, and flexible work arrangements protect women’s physical and economic health.
The gains from these investments are immense: lower healthcare costs, increased workforce participation, healthier children, and stronger communities.
Health Education and Digital Health Tools
Another important investment area is health literacy. When women understand their bodies and health needs, they are more likely to seek timely care and adopt healthy behaviors.
Digital technologies such as telemedicine platforms, health education apps, and menstrual tracking tools are increasingly empowering women to monitor their health and access information more easily.
When societies prioritize women’s health, the gains are far-reaching:
Healthier children and families
Lower national healthcare costs
Increased workforce participation
Improved economic productivity
Stronger and more resilient communities
In essence, investing in women’s health is not simply a social responsibility, it is a strategic investment in sustainable development.
By ensuring that women have access to comprehensive healthcare throughout their lives, societies create the conditions for women to thrive, lead, and contribute fully to shaping the future.
Subtle Ways Justice Is Often Withheld
While progress has been made, justice for women is sometimes obstructed in subtle ways that go unnoticed or unchallenged. These include:
1. Dismissing women’s opinions in meetings or decision-making spaces
2. Paying women less for the same work
3. Limiting women’s access to leadership opportunities
4. Ignoring women’s health complaints or minimizing their symptoms
5. Expecting unpaid emotional or domestic labor without recognition
6. Discouraging girls from pursuing careers in science, technology, or leadership
7. Overlooking harassment or inappropriate workplace behavior
8. Judging women’s competence based on appearance or marital status
9. Excluding women from financial decision-making within families or organizations
10. Labeling assertive women as “difficult” while praising similar behavior in men
These barriers may seem small individually, but collectively they create systems that limit opportunity and delay justice.
The Role of Women- Leadership and taking Charge
While systems must change, women themselves also play a powerful role in shaping their futures.
Women can take charge by:
Investing in education and continuous learning
Building supportive networks and mentoring other women
Advocating for fair policies and representation
Prioritizing physical and mental health
Participating actively in civic and political processes
Supporting women-owned businesses and initiatives
Speaking up against injustice and discrimination
History reminds us that nothing worth having is handed freely. Lasting change often comes from persistent effort and collective action.
Consider the women who led the suffrage movements, fighting for decades to secure voting rights. Or civil rights leaders such as Rosa Parks, whose refusal to accept injustice helped ignite transformative social change. Activists like Malala Yousafzai continue to advocate globally for girls’ education despite immense challenges. Dora Akunyili who led a campaign against counterfeit drugs, Dr. Stella Adadevoh who prevented a catastrophic ebola outbreak and paid the ultimate price, Nkechi Okwuone who continues to support women economic empowerment
These stories illustrate an enduring truth: change often begins with individuals who refuse to accept limitations imposed upon them.
A Future Worth Building
International Women’s Day reminds us that progress requires more than celebration, it requires commitment, investment, and action.
When we invest in women’s education, health, leadership, and safety, we invest in the wellbeing of entire societies. When justice is extended to women and girls, communities grow stronger, economies become more resilient, and future generations inherit a more equitable world.
The path toward equality is not always easy, but history has shown that determined individuals and communities can transform societies.
On this International Women’s Day, let us move beyond words and embrace the challenge to invest in women, pursue justice, and take action for all women and girls.
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