Gender Roles

Malabika Sarker, MBBS, MPH, PhD James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Bangladesh

In the video, Dr. Sarker states:

“Vaccination often requires long journeys, overnight field visits, temporary stay in the remote areas, riding on motorbikes which are viewed as culturally unacceptable for women across the community. These challenges make women’s work strenuous and sometimes force them to depend on male coworkers. The question is, how could female frontline workers be better supported? Many female polio workers see higher pay is the key thing that could lead to improvement here. A good salary can silence household critics and allow them to hire someone to do some of the tasks they leave behind.”

Consider the lecture and reading “Delivered by women, led by men”. Reflect on the challenges female polio workers face, or female workers encounter in your own context.

• List three key gender considerations that should be incorporated within the polio eradication initiative as well as other global health programs.