Invisible care work has VISIBLE impact: Gender equality and right to health are inseparable
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The common phrase 'good girls take care of family' reflects a deeply ingrained social expectation, often referred to as 'Good Girl Syndrome,' where girls and women are expected to be nurturers, compliant, and prioritise others' needs over their own. This often translates to handling household burdens, emotional labour, and caregiving to ensure family stability.
It is important for girls and women and people of all gender diversities to prioritise infection prevention and control, and access public healthcare services in a rights-based, gender transformative, non-stigmatising and non-discriminatory manner as and when needed.
AMR threatens health, food, environment
"Drug resistance or Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is caused by misuse and overuse of medicines in human health, livestock health, food and agriculture and it is also polluting our environment. We cannot afford any misuse and overuse of medicines in any sector if we are to deliver on SDGs. However, AMR is already among top 10 global health threats and is also threatening food security and our environment along with a significant economic cost," said Dr Ijyaa Singh of ReAct Asia Pacific at the Women Deliver Conference 2026 - world's largest gathering on gender equality this year.
Women and girls (including those sick with infectious diseases) are the primary carers in most settings - especially in the Global South. But the infection prevention and control measures in the healthcare facilities, communities and homes are far from optimal to protect them and undermine the roles and responsibilities they shoulder. Many studies looking at male: female ratio of child vaccination, unsurprisingly reveal that the male child is more likely to have received essential immunisation as compared to a girl child. When it comes to screening and diagnostics for a range of infections, women are less likely to seek health services in a rights-based, person-centred and gender transformative manner. A complex mix of biological, social, cultural and economic factors arising from gender-based inequalities and injustices impact infection prevention and control, added Dr Ijyaa Singh.
Gender inequalities fuel AMR
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