WS 30 – Unlocking Global Health Success through Inclusivity

Inclusivity in global health refers to the practice of involving all individuals, communities, and countries in the creation and implementation of health strategies. It ensures that policies are equitable and accessible, especially to marginalized or vulnerable populations. This means identifying and addressing disparities in health outcomes, ensuring diverse representation in decision-making processes, and tailoring interventions to meet the needs of different groups. Inclusivity also fosters collaboration among global health organizations and development partners to ensure that all regions and populations benefit from advances in healthcare, rather than leaving any group behind.

Gender inclusivity in this context is the practice of creating environments, policies, and behaviours that actively respect, accommodate, and support individuals of all gender identities. It means ensuring that everyone, regardless of their gender identity, feels welcomed, respected, and valued. Gender inclusivity contributes towards promoting equity and representation. In global health policies and programs it has been essential to improving health outcomes.

The importance of these concepts is starkly illustrated in the context of HIV/AIDS. In many parts of the world, new HIV infections occur predominantly in men who have sex with men, transgender and gender diverse people, sex worker and people who inject drugs or prisoners and other incarcerated people. They also often face legal and social barriers in accessing HIV prevention and treatment services.

This session will delve into why addressing inclusivity and gender diversity is important for improving health outcome and should therefore be central to global health strategies. The session will also examine how moving from gender-responsive to gender-transformative programming in global health initiatives, particularly in HIV prevention, treatment, and care, can lead to more effective health interventions and equitable outcomes for all. It will feature perspectives from communities directly affected by health services that are not gender-responsive and showcase good examples of gender-transformative programming. We will learn from their experiences and insights to understand the real-world impact of gender-diverse approaches in healthcare and bridge the gap between policy and practice.