Every day is women’s day

This International Women’s Day, women from across Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) talk about courage and doubt, violence and invisible burdens, and the denial of the right to self-determination. They also talk about care, solidarity, and quiet leadership.

And they dream: of a world in which women and their health needs are taken seriously and their dignity is non-negotiable. Their stories remind us that equality is not an abstract goal, but a daily practice. They make it clear why it is so important to protect women's rights, make them visible and demand them again and again – today and every day.

Asma Aweis Abdullahi, medical doctor, Somalia

"I have met women who silently endured pain and complications that could have been avoided. Their stories stay with me.

My work is about supporting patients, strengthening medical services, and standing alongside communities, especially women, during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

My dream is a world where women’s health is never neglected, minimised, or delayed. A world where every woman regardless of where she lives, has access to safe, respectful, and dignified healthcare. Where women feel heard, protected, and empowered, and where access to care is recognised as a right, not a privilege.

Too many women continue to suffer from preventable conditions due to barriers in access, awareness, stigma, and resources. They are a constant reminder that women’s health is not only a clinical priority, but a matter of dignity, equity, and justice. I stand for earlier care, stronger education, and healthcare systems that treat every woman with respect.

Within MSF I am surrounded by extraordinary women. Women who lead, heal, advocate, and persevere in challenging environments. Their dedication is a daily reminder that women are not only recipients of care; they are also leaders of change."

Khadija Al-Haj, Recruiter, Yemen

"I feel that women and their contribution to society should be recognised not only on one day per year.

My dream as a woman is to see more women in leadership and important roles in the work environment and in society. 

Here in Yemen, there are challenges and I hope that one day the participation of women in the healthcare sector will increase, because in this context female patients feel more comfortable if their health conditions are addressed and attended to by other females. I see this as the responsibility of every individual, society, community, and state to have this one day achieved. 

During my work with MSF, I got really inspired by female colleagues I worked with who are mothers. They are working with MSF at a very high professional level. Besides all that, they are the primary supporters of their families. Plus, they are working hard to develop themselves, to study and to grow professionally.

I was really inspired by their commitment, how they balance everything and their determination. It’s really motivating, and I feel like they are the invisible heroes in our society."

Judith Elavian, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Kenya

"Women’s health is not only a medical issue — it is a matter of dignity and social justice.

My work focuses on ensuring that healthcare workers receive training that is adapted to their context and delivered in ways that support how they learn best, so they can provide quality essential health services to the communities they serve.

My dream as a woman is to see a world where women and girls can access quality healthcare without fear, stigma, or financial barriers. I dream of a future where women are decision-makers in health policies, where maternal deaths are preventable and prevented, and where young girls grow up knowing their voices matter and their health is a priority.

One of the biggest challenges in women’s health is access — not just to facilities, but to accurate information, respectful care, and the autonomy to make informed decisions.

Many women still face financial dependence, stigma around reproductive health, and limited awareness of their rights.

My goal is to promote respectful maternity care through education and awareness, ensuring women are not just patients, but active partners in their healthcare.

I draw inspiration from our locally hired female staff who show up day after day to serve their communities, even when their own circumstances are challenging. Their resilience, dedication, and courage form the true backbone of humanitarian work."

Liya Jemal Debela, mental health activity manager, Ethiopia

"In crisis settings, women are caregivers, survivors, providers, and protectors often all at once. Yet their psychological suffering can remain unseen and untreated.

I support teams across different projects, helping strengthen mental health and psychosocial care for people affected by conflict, displacement, and crisis.

My role involves supporting staff, and ensuring that mental health care is accessible, culturally sensitive, and integrated into medical services.

As a woman, my dream is to see a world where women’s mental health is prioritised just as much as physical health, especially in humanitarian settings. I dream of a future where women feel safe to speak about trauma, grief, depression, and violence without stigma. I also dream of continuing to grow as a leader, supporting other women to step into leadership roles with confidence and courage.

One of the biggest challenges I see is how often women carry invisible burdens.

I have met women who survived violence, displacement, and loss, and still show incredible resilience. Their strength reminds me that mental health care is not a luxury; it is lifesaving. My goal is to continue advocating for integrated mental health services, especially for survivors of gender-based violence, and to ensure that care is not only available but also compassionate and dignified.

I have been inspired by many women in MSF; women who lead projects in complex emergencies, who speak up in difficult spaces, and who balance empathy with strength. What inspires me most is seeing women support other women: mentoring, encouraging, and creating space at the table. That solidarity reminds me that leadership is not about power, but about impact and responsibility."

Cynthia Matildes, psychologist

"Most of my experience comes from contexts of armed conflict and situations where people are exposed to violence, displacement and other crises.

I am often in close contact with girls and women who experienced sexual and gender-based violence. I have accompanied women and girls who have had deeply painful experiences, including assaults by multiple perpetrators and, in many cases, re-victimisation by members of their community, authorities and even health workers.

This is a major challenge, as in many of the contexts in which we work, there is a significant lack of resources and safe spaces for survivors. Women often face not only violence and the associated trauma, but also stigmatisation and silence.

My dream is for all women to be able to live in a world where we feel safe, without fear and with full respect for our rights. I want us all to have access to basic services that enable us to live in autonomy and dignity, including free health care services.

I also dream that the mental health of women and girls will be seen as a priority: that our emotional well-being is important, that suffering is not hidden, and that it is always safe and possible to ask for help.

At MSF, there have been and continue to be many women who inspire me. They have been and continue to be mentors, companions and friends, and I have learned something valuable from each of them."
 

Risa Kikuchi, midwife

"I work hard every day hoping to see more mothers smile as they hold their babies.

While working as a midwife in Yemen, I witnessed something that shocked me deeply. Even when the baby passed away, the mothers and families didn’t cry. I don’t know whether it was because they felt there was no choice, or because they saw it so often that they couldn’t cry anymore. But that moment made me painfully aware of the difference in medical standards between Japan and many other parts of the world.

The data I collected during my assignment has now been added to the MSF database, and the local team will continue monitoring the situation even after I leave the project. I know that what I can do myself is very limited, but if I can keep contributing to long-term support in this way, I believe it can make a real difference.

My dream is to support mothers all over the world so they can live happy lives with their babies and families. And I also hope to build that kind of warm, loving family for myself one day.

When I was a child, I saw news footage of children living in conflict zones in Africa. I remember thinking, “I want to help them.”

Since then, I’ve worked hard with the goal of joining MSF. After completing my first assignment, I found a new goal: I want to help raise the global standard of maternal and new-born care so that mothers and babies everywhere can receive the same level of medical support.

A woman within MSF who really inspired me was Camille, our Head Nurse. On her first day at work, she expressed gratitude for even the smallest things other people did. It’s an extremely demanding role—but even in her busiest moments, she always took the time to listen carefully to whoever came to the office. Her ability to listen, her positivity, and the way she could shift the atmosphere so quickly really impressed me."

Victória Bertina Francisco, Psychologist, Mozambique

"My dream as a woman is to live in a society where gender differences are not used as a limiting factor, but rather as a force for empowerment, equality and unity.

One of the biggest challenges in women's health is the normalisation of gender-based violence by the survivors themselves. Many grow up believing that certain types of violence, especially within marriage, are normal. This makes it difficult to seek support and perpetuates cycles of silent suffering, profoundly affecting mental and physical health.

In addition to responding to cases, it is essential to invest in prevention and awareness strategies that begin in adolescence.

What inspired me most at MSF was seeing several women in leadership positions, something that is still not very common in our reality. This reinforced my belief that we can indeed occupy decision-making spaces. In particular, I would like to highlight Sara, the field coordinator, for the firm and strategic way in which she led the closure of a long-running project. Her leadership was truly inspiring."