Organon, a healthcare company focused on women’s health, and CAF Development Bank of Latin America, signed an MOU to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through design, structure and implementation of sustainable programs that improve equity, health and autonomy of girls and women in Latin America and the Caribbean.
What does the partnership mean for women’s health?
Tremendous gaps exist in women’s health that can potentially prevent women and thus economies from achieving their full potential. Sustainable financing can advance progress by mobilizing capital towards initiatives that might not otherwise receive adequate support like increasing access to sexual and reproductive health education and healthcare services.
Sustainable financing is one potential solution to address constrained govt budgets while catalyzing healthcare and socioeconomic progress. Health-focused social impact investments – also known as results-based financing – can provide governments and investors with measurable and meaningful results, while reducing their risk. Yet as of 2020 health-related investments only represented 10% of the 190 billion global social bond issuances.
This will help prioritize and improve the health, equity, and autonomy of girls and women in Latin America and the Caribbean. It will ensure that women get the resources and support they need to lead healthy, fulfilling lives as well as contributing to economic development. One recently released report revealed that if women were to participate in the economy identically to men, as much as $28 trillion – or 26% – could be added to the global GDP in 2025.
What does this mean for Organon and CAF?
Commenting on the initiative, Kevin Ali, Organon Chief Executive Officer, said, “At Organon, we believe that results-based financing can drive collective action to progressing women’s health goals. We are proud of our first-of-its-kind collaboration with CAF, built specifically to positively affect the health of women – and also a country’s economy and development.”
Commenting on the partnership, Sergio Diaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF, said, “This agreement with Organon will help us to join forces in order to break with the structural barriers that limit the access of women to health, financial and non-financial services.”
Organon has created a transformative model for convening govts and development global banks to improve the lives of women and girls and grow gross domestic product (GDP).
By using data, Organon is helping governments across the planet to understand the value sustainable finance can provide to their people and their economies through health-related investments. Programs are currently running in eight countries in different phases including Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, as well as Thailand, Kenya, and South Africa.
What is the wider industry context of this partnership?
Women’s health in Latin America and the Caribbean is facing a number of challenges, including:
- High maternal mortality rates. Latin America and the Caribbean has the second highest maternal mortality rate in the world, after sub-Saharan Africa. In 2020, there were 239 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in the region.
- Inadequate access to sexual and reproductive health services. Millions of women in Latin America and the Caribbean do not have access to essential sexual and reproductive health services, such as contraception, safe abortion, and maternal healthcare. This lack of access contributes to high rates of unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and maternal mortality.
- Gender-based violence. Gender-based violence is a major problem in Latin America and the Caribbean. One in three women in the region has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. Gender-based violence can have a devastating impact on women’s health, both physical and mental.
- Climate change. Climate change is also a major threat to women’s health in Latin America and the Caribbean. Women are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, water scarcity, and food insecurity. These impacts can lead to increased rates of maternal mortality, malnutrition, and infectious diseases.
These are just some of the top challenges to women’s health in Latin America and the Caribbean. These challenges have a profound impact on women’s lives, and they must be addressed in order to improve the health and well-being of women in the region.
In addition to the challenges listed above, there are a number of other factors that contribute to poor women’s health in Latin America and the Caribbean, including:
- Poverty. Poverty is a major barrier to accessing healthcare in the region. Women living in poverty are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured, and they are less likely to have access to quality healthcare.
- Inequity. Women in Latin America and the Caribbean are not always treated equally in the healthcare system. They may face discrimination based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.
- Lack of education. Lack of education is another barrier to women’s health in the region. Women who are not educated may not be aware of their health needs, and they may not be able to access the healthcare they need.
These challenges can be overcome, but it will require a concerted effort from governments, healthcare providers, and civil society. There are a number of things that can be done to improve women’s health in Latin America and the Caribbean, including:
- Investing in healthcare. Governments need to invest more in healthcare, particularly in primary care and reproductive health services. This will help to ensure that all women, regardless of their income or social status, have access to quality healthcare.
- Addressing gender-based violence. Governments need to take steps to address gender-based violence. This includes providing support to survivors of violence, enacting laws that protect women from violence, and changing social norms that perpetuate violence against women.
- Empowering women. Women need to be empowered to take control of their own health. This includes providing women with education about their health, giving them access to decision-making power, and supporting their economic independence.
By addressing these challenges, it is possible to improve the health and well-being of women in Latin America and the Caribbean. This will not only benefit women, but it will also benefit their families and communities.
Gerald Ainomugisha is a business news reporter and freelance B2B marketer with over 10 years of experience in writing high-converting copy and content for businesses of all kinds, especially SaaS providers in the niches of HR, IT, fintech, eCommerce and web3. Since joining Upwork in 2012 (back when it was still eLance), Gerald A. has delivered great results for hundreds of clients, maintaining a 98% Job Success rate as well as 5+ years of Top Rated Plus rating (and Premium Writers Talent Cloud membership). Book a meeting with Gerald A. today to get the powerful SEO content you need!
