Women & Girls - (RED) https://www.red.org/reditorial/category/women-girls/ Tue, 04 Mar 2025 21:09:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 Celebrating and Empowering Girls on International Day of The Girl https://www.red.org/reditorial/women-girls/celebrating-and-empowering-girls-on-international-day-of-the-girl-child-2023-viiv-letters-to-girlhood-idg2023/ Wed, 11 Oct 2023 21:19:41 +0000 https://red.org/?p=1131 International Day of the Girl is celebrated annually on the 11th of October. With the goal of promoting girl’s empowerment and fulfillment of their human rights, the day also highlights the challenges that girls face all over the world. Every week, 4,000 adolescent girls and young women acquire HIV. Of... Read more »

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]]> International Day of the Girl is celebrated annually on the 11th of October. With the goal of promoting girl’s empowerment and fulfillment of their human rights, the day also highlights the challenges that girls face all over the world.

Every week, 4,000 adolescent girls and young women acquire HIV. Of these infections, nearly 80% are in sub-Saharan Africa. (RED)’s mission is to end that injustice and make preventable and treatable disease preventable and treatable for everyone. Together, we can make sure every girl lives a life free from HIV/AIDS.

Letters to Girlhood

Not every girl has the same story, but we are all connected by our dreams and aspirations for the future no matter where we live. In honor of International Day of the Girl, we asked (RED) supporters to write to their inner girl about their aspirations for the future. We heard from women from all walks of life who shared their heartfelt messages of hope and empowerment. Watch the video and see some of their letters and girlhood portraits in the gallery below.

ViiV Healthcare Empowers Women & Girls

On International Day of the Girl, and every day, we’re proud to partner with ViiV Healthcare to support programs that help fight these injustices. In order to end AIDS, we need to empower women and girls to take control of their own health future.

(RED) Talks: Combatting HIV in Women & Girls

To explore the work that’s being done to end HIV and AIDS in adolescent girls and young women, (RED) President and COO Jennifer Lotito spoke with Cathy Ferrier, Head of Positive Action at ViiV Healthcare, Rukia Männikkö, Community, Rights and Gender Regional Advisor & Focal Point for Africa and Middle East at the Global Fund, Yacine Djibo, Executive Director at Speak Up Africa, and Millicent Sethaile, HER Voice Ambassador, Botswana. Watch the conversation:

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]]> (RED) Talks—Combating HIV: Girls & Young Women https://www.red.org/reditorial/red-talks/red-talks-combating-hiv-girls-young-women/ Tue, 10 Oct 2023 21:17:14 +0000 https://red.org/?p=1126 In this episode of (RED) Talks, (RED) President and COO, Jennifer Lotito is accompanied by Cathy Ferrier, Head of Positive Action, @ViiV Healthcare, Rukia Männikkö, Community, Rights and Gender Regional Advisor & Focal Point for Africa and Middle East, @The Global Fund, Yacine Djibo, Executive Director, Speak Up Africa, and Millicent Sethaile, HER Voice Ambassador, Botswana, to explore the work that is being done to end HIV and AIDS in adolescent girls and young women.

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]]> We’re back with another episode of (RED) Talks, our digital series of frank conversations exploring the current state of the fight against HIV/AIDS, its impact on marginalized communities, and present opportunities to shine a spotlight on the need for investment.

Every day, over 550 young women contract HIV. To end this injustice, we must increase programs that h​​elp empower young women and girls to be in control of their health and well-being.

Ahead of International Day of the Girl, Cathy Ferrier, Head of Positive Action, ViiV Healthcare, Rukia Männikkö, Community, Rights and Gender Regional Advisor & Focal Point for Africa and Middle East, The Global Fund, Yacine Djibo, Executive Director, Speak Up Africa, and Millicent Sethaile, HER Voice Ambassador, Botswana, join Jennifer Lotito, (RED) President and COO, for an episode of (RED) Talks exploring the work that’s being done to end HIV and AIDS in adolescent girls and young women.

This episode of (RED) Talks is generously sponsored by ViiV Healthcare.

  • Key questions addressed in this episode:
  • – Where are we in the AIDS crisis today and how and why are women and girls hit the hardest by this crisis? 
  • -What are some of the efforts being done by ViiV Healthcare regarding HIV and AIDS, especially in priority populations such as adolescent girls and young women? 
  • -What is some of the work being done by Yacine Djibo from Speak Up Africa regarding women and girls in West and Central Africa? 
  • -From Yacine Djibo’s vantage point, what types of policies and initiatives should be invested in to empower women and girls to ensure they have a voice in decisions that affect their health and well-being? 
  • -What motivated Millicent Sethaile to become a HER Voice ambassador? How did the role in the HER Voice fund impact Millicent’s life and the lives of adolescent girls and women? 
  • -From Millicent’s perspective, what should be done to empower adolescent girls and young women to ensure they have a voice in decisions that affect their health and well-being? 
  • -Beyond the HER Voice program, what are some of the other ways the Global Fund is improving global health for women and girls? When companies partner with (RED) to support the Global fund, what types of programs are those grants supporting? 
  • –Recently, the Global Fund, ViiV, and GSK partnered on a new initiative and fund focused on women and girls. What makes this particular partnership special and unique? 
  • -What is one trend or innovation that is being seen in global health that showcases hope for women and girls?

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]]> Join (RED) This International Women’s Day https://www.red.org/reditorial/women-girls/international-womens-day-2023/ Wed, 08 Mar 2023 17:11:08 +0000 https://red.org/?p=1623 Today, March 8th, is International Women’s Day, a global holiday to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness around discrimination, and take action to drive gender equality. (RED) and our partners are proud to support the incredible female healthcare workers and activists who are making the world a smarter, safer, and healthier... Read more »

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]]> Today, March 8th, is International Women’s Day, a global holiday to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness around discrimination, and take action to drive gender equality.

(RED) and our partners are proud to support the incredible female healthcare workers and activists who are making the world a smarter, safer, and healthier place.

Check out our International Women’s Day 2023 video:

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]]> 8 INC(RED)IBLE Women Who Revolutionized Healthcare https://www.red.org/reditorial/women-girls/8-incredible-women-who-revolutionized-healthcare-womens-history-month/ Thu, 31 Mar 2022 18:53:38 +0000 https://red.org/?p=1867 Women’s History Month is coming to an end but celebrating women doesn’t have to. One of the areas in which women are often overlooked is the medical field. Women of various backgrounds are the hidden figures behind many of the groundbreaking advancements seen in healthcare today. We pulled together a... Read more »

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]]> Women’s History Month is coming to an end but celebrating women doesn’t have to.

One of the areas in which women are often overlooked is the medical field. Women of various backgrounds are the hidden figures behind many of the groundbreaking advancements seen in healthcare today. We pulled together a list crediting just a few of the incredible women who made history in the field of medicine and broke gender barriers with their achievements.

1. Dr. Gertude B. Elion

A Nobel Prize winner in medicine, Dr. Gertrude B. Elion was a biochemist and pharmacologist on a mission to alleviate people’s suffering from illnesses like cancer. Instead of using the “trial-and-error” method, Elion and partner Dr. George Hitchings used a revolutionary approach to creating medicine by studying the chemical composition of diseased cells. As a result of their new research process and the pursuit of her mission, Elion helped develop drugs to prevent kidney transplant rejection and treat many illnesses like leukemia and AIDS.

2. Dr. Ann Tsukamoto

In 1991, Dr. Ann Tsukamoto was among the scientists on her team who invented a process called “stem cell isolation,” the first method to isolate human blood-forming stem cells. Her breakthrough invention and the resulting 12 U.S patents have led to life-saving cancer treatments.

3. Dr. Kizzmekia S. Corbett

One of the major contributions to the COVID pandemic was the COVID-19 vaccine. Viral immunologist Kizzmekia S. Corbett was behind the development and design of the mRNA-based COVID vaccine. Corbett now speaks to people to educate them about the science behind vaccines, reduce vaccine hesitancy, and bridge the gap between public awareness and vaccine science.

4. Flossie Wong-Staal

Flossie Wong-Staal was one of the first scientists to clone the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), a vital step in finding the correlation between HIV and AIDS, developing of the virus’s genetic map, and paving the way for HIV blood tests. Her pioneering research built a foundation for understanding emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19.

5. Rosalind Franklin

In 1952, British Scientist Rosalind Franklin captured the first X-ray image of deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA. Franklin’s X-ray allowed Francis Crick and James D. Watson conclude that DNA is a double helix, a major discovery in structural virology

6. Letitia Geer

The syringe you see today in medical facilities and vaccination sites evolved from Letitia Mumford Geer’s invention of the one-handed syringe in 1896. Before Geer’s invention, two hands were necessary in order to utilize a syringe. Geer’s invention has transformed modern healthcare tools allowing syringes to be a quick, smooth, and relatively pain-free tool to transfer medicine for patients and for doctors.

7. Avesta Rastan

At age 25, Avesta Rastan used her skills in biomedical communication design to create a “viral” infographic poster in 2020 to show how COVID-19 affects the body and made it accessible in 18 languages. Rastan wanted to help deliver digestible information about COVID-19 during a time when there was a lot of misinformation and uncertainty around the pandemic. Avesta continues to live by the quote “science is not finished until it’s communicated” and now works in a global health company called Real Chemistry as a Multimedia Production Artist.

8. Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner

Last but not least, Mary Kenner was a self-taught inventor who made numerous inventions but is mostly known for inventing the sanitary belt patent in 1956, the precursor for modern menstrual pads. Kenner created a belt for sanitary napkins, when women were still using cloth pads and rags during their menstruation. Despite the challenges Mary Kenner faced when trying to patent her inventions, she obtained five patents during her lifetime.

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]]> How Women Are Leading the Charge Against Health Emergencies https://www.red.org/reditorial/women-girls/women-leading-fight-against-pandemics/ Wed, 09 Mar 2022 18:56:44 +0000 https://red.org/?p=1891 Worldwide, women have been hit harder than men by the indirect social and economic effects of the COVID pandemic, threatening decades of progress toward gender equality.  But despite all that’s working against them, women continue to be leaders on the front lines fighting health emergencies like  COVID-19 and AIDS. In... Read more »

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]]> Worldwide, women have been hit harder than men by the indirect social and economic effects of the COVID pandemic, threatening decades of progress toward gender equality. 

But despite all that’s working against them, women continue to be leaders on the front lines fighting health emergencies like  COVID-19 and AIDS. In fact, 70% of health workers are women, making them the most likely first responders to health crises. Women community leaders also play a critical role in creating supportive spaces for young women and girls to learn about their health, build confidence, and set ambitious goals.

Community leaders like Carolyne, a peer educator in Kenya, help to empower young women and girls to be in control of their health and well-being. Carolyne is one of 400 peer educators working for a Global Fund-supported program that focuses on HIV prevention, care, and treatment for adolescent girls and young women. After receiving a positive HIV diagnosis at 17, Carolyne lived in denial for years—until she became pregnant. At that time, she explains, “I wasn’t taking the medicine. I decided, okay, let me just do it for this baby. That was my turnaround point, and I started adhering to my medication.”

Today, as a peer educator, Carolyne shares her story with young women in her community to help them overcome stigma and remain healthy. By 2024, Carolyne and hundreds of other peer educators in five counties in Kenya are expected to have reached more than 20,000 adolescent girls and young women.

Addressing gender inequalities is key to preventing HIV infections and deaths. The Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment conference, which is coming up later this year, aims to raise money to close the gap in gender inequality by funding programs like Carolyne’s, and others that focus on women’s health and rights. If the replenishment target of $18 billion is met, the Global Fund anticipates a 72% reduction of HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women in the most affected countries.

Pandemics thrive where inequalities persist and without a deliberate focus to protect and support the health of women and girls, they will always be disproportionately affected by health emergencies. The good news is that women are also catalysts for action. Supporting (RED) means supporting community leaders like Carolyne and helping to empower women and girls in the fight against pandemics.

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]]> IHATA Shelter Continues to Support Young Women in the Face of COVID-19 https://www.red.org/reditorial/impact/ihata-shelter-supports-women-during-covid-19/ Tue, 22 Sep 2020 16:27:55 +0000 https://www.red.org/?p=5283 Poverty and gender inequality, insufficient access to education and sexual and reproductive health services, and gender-based violence are just a few of the issues that continue to put young women and girls at an increased risk of contracting HIV. The current COVID-19 pandemic has only magnified these issues. As lockdowns... Read more »

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]]> Poverty and gender inequality, insufficient access to education and sexual and reproductive health services, and gender-based violence are just a few of the issues that continue to put young women and girls at an increased risk of contracting HIV.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has only magnified these issues. As lockdowns are put in place worldwide to slow the spread of the virus, women and girls are often trapped at home with abusive partners or family members, putting them at an increased risk of gender-based violence.

That’s where IHATA Shelter comes in…IHATA Shelter is a (RED)-supported program in Cape Town, South Africa that acts as a refuge to most-at-risk women and girls, providing them with accommodations and opportunities to become self-sufficient and independent.

Ndzuzo Mlandu is a counselor with Partners in Health (PIH), a global health organization that helps implement sexual health education programs at IHATA. As part of their programming, IHATA and PIH offer condom demonstrations, HIV testing, and other prevention products and services to help protect and empower young women in the fight against AIDS.

“If we take these programs away, if we take such activities away from young girls, we will discourage them from being better people and being contributors to our economy and our country,” he says. 

Farieda is a 17-year-old student and mother. After becoming pregnant at 16, she left her grandfather’s home and came to IHATA. She feels encouraged by the programs and services that the shelter provides and eager to use what she’s learned from IHATA to finish her schooling. “I really want to make the best of my life,” she says. “I’m a smart person, and I know I can do it. I’m going to finish my school, so I can give myself and my child a better future.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, IHATA has continued to support young women in the local community. IHATA’s sexual reproductive health workshops serve as a critical opportunity to provide HIV testing, care, and PrEP services, ultimately helping to reduce the risk of HIV infections and instill confidence among young women and girls. When you join (RED), you help ensure young women like Farieda have access to live-saving programs like those provided by IHATA.

IHATA Shelter acts as a refuge to most-at-risk women and girls, providing them with accommodations and opportunities to become independent and empowering them in the fight to end AIDS. 

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]]> Amandla Development https://www.red.org/reditorial/impact/amandla-development-supports-young-women/ Tue, 01 Sep 2020 14:59:59 +0000 https://www.red.org/?p=4980 Young women and girls are disproportionately affected by HIV. Now, under the threat of COVID-19, these critical HIV health services can be harder to access, allowing one pandemic to thrive as another takes a new hold on an already vulnerable population.    Recognizing this threat, (RED)-funded programs like Amandla Development in... Read more »

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]]> Young women and girls are disproportionately affected by HIV. Now, under the threat of COVID-19, these critical HIV health services can be harder to access, allowing one pandemic to thrive as another takes a new hold on an already vulnerable population.   

Recognizing this threat, (RED)-funded programs like Amandla Development in Cape Town, South Africa have implemented social distancing and other COVID-19 preventative measures so that lifesaving HIV education, sexual reproductive health services, and mental health counseling remain open and accessible to young women in need.   

16-year-old Asive Molose is a student and participates in a variety of Amandla’s empowerment  programs, including self-defense workshops, which teach young women to protect themselves from gender-based violence. In addition to equipping Asive with the confidence and tools to stand up for herself, Amandla has also provided her with a safe space to talk about the difficult circumstances facing many young women in South Africa. 

What’s Asive’s message to other young women in her community? “Be you! Do you for you! And if ever you feel uncomfortable or if ever you feel that you need someone to talk to, you can always call Amandla.”

During the current COVID-19 outbreak in South Africa, Amandla Development continues to connect young people and their families with support and care services, to provide accurate health information, and to promote learning while students are out of classrooms. By providing critical health services at this time, Amandla is helping to ensure that young women and girls can thrive and avoid the threat of both HIV and COVID-19. 

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