At Citihealth we are proud to support the work of Amref Health Africa.

As a women-owned and women-led business we are constantly impressed by the work of Amref in their campaign to #AccelerateAction in order to bring gender equality to Africa, and to change the conversation around the practice of FGM/C within communities.

Every year, Amref supports thousands of women working for change, so for International Women’s Day this year we are sharing some of their stories of women and girls who are leading change in their communities – transforming the health, lives and prospects of their families and communities and we are calling for more support for them to be able to #AccelerateAction.

Hellen Hadia is a midwife and changemaker from South Sudan.

Amref supported her training at the Maridi Heath Sciences Institute in South Sudan, where all South Sudan’s nurse-midwives are trained. She now leads the labour unit at Mvolo County Hospital where she helps mothers to have healthy pregnancies and safe childbirths, and babies to have the brightest possible start in life.

Every day, Hellen shows us how to #AccelerateAction for all women and girls.

When she was growing up as a young girl in Sédhiou in southern Senegal, Coumba’s close relatives wanted her to undergo FGM/C.

Coumba’s grandmother, mother, and other relatives were against the cut of FGM/C. They experienced excommunication or isolation from the community due to their opposition to FGM/C.

She was lucky – she had her family on her side. But her sisters and her friends were not – they were forced to face the cut.

Coumba is a young leader at the Sédhiou Adolescent Counseling Center in Sédhiou, Senegal. She is also president of The Girl Council, which is part of the Girl Generation programme. The Girl Council helps girls understand more about FGM/C and gives them the tools to take those messages to their communities.

In Coumba’s words: “I would like my community to join the movement to stop the practice [of FGM/C] and for young people to be also aware that, it is their right in fact and that they have a voice to say no.”

Coumba is empowering girls like her to #AccelerateAction to end FGM/C.

Jane is one of the thousands of girls in Kenya who have attended Amref-led training sessions on the negative effects of FGM/C and the culturally-rich alternatives that can mark the transition to womanhood. Her work to bring that knowledge back to communities like the one she grew up in is helping to end the pain and trauma of the cut.

Jane is leading change in Kajiado. Her work is helping girls in Kajiado to #AccelerateAction to end the cut of FGM/C so that all women and girls have the chance to realise the full potential of their dreams.

Josephine the community health worker is closing the gap between people in her community in Ndola, Zambia and the health services they need. She particularly helps mothers through pregnancy and beyond.

Women are the drivers of universal health access, if they can receive care within their communities and are empowered to make decisions about their own health in supportive environments. Community Health Workers (CHWs) like Josephine are a critical part of empowering women with the health information, advice and services they need - as close as possible to home.

Josephine plays a critical role to close health gaps and #AccelerateAction so all women can access the healthcare they need. She says: “What is in my heart is the love I have for my community. I don’t want my people to suffer, the women and children especially.”

Read more about Amref’s work and the women and girls who are driving health change.

A young changemaker on end FGM/C: Read the story of Jane Nkoitai, end FGM/C activist, Kenya
A truly dedicated midwife: Read how training has empowered Hellen Hadia with the knowledge and skills she needs to keep mothers and their babies safe and healthy, and to get the brightest start in life.
A youth leader and end FGM/C activist: Read more about the incredible work of Coumba Aw
The community health worker helping mothers give their babies the best start in life: Read more about Josephine from Zambia