Being the eldest of four sisters growing up in a patriarchal society, I have noticed gender disparity from a very young age. At the same time, my progressive parents set an example of how a supportive environment can produce self-reliant, resilient women despite the adverse societal norms. This dichotomy has been reinforced during my professional journey of approximately two decades in public health. I have seen gender as a defining factor affecting health outcomes in the communities and disproportionate gender ratio in health leadership. On the other hand, I have witnessed the immense potential of the female workforce in the health sector. I sincerely believe that women leaders in public health need to support each other to make a serious dent on the barriers posed by gender on health outcomes as well as women’s leadership in health. I am Dr Kanupriya Singhal, Health Specialist at UNICEF office for Uttar Pradesh.
