Dr. Alaa Murabit, as the director of global health advocacy and communications at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is working to broaden the conversation around women’s health care. While many associate women’s health with reproductive rights, Murabit believes that it goes beyond just childbearing. She emphasizes that women’s health is a fundamental necessity for a thriving economy, not just a favor to women.
According to a recent McKinsey report, closing the health gap between men and women could significantly boost global GDP by 2040. Murabit is taking action by raising funds for the Beginnings Fund, a collaborative effort aimed at providing women around the world with the resources and support they need for effective health care. This can range from providing basic medical supplies in some countries to increasing investment in research on menopause in others.
For Murabit, women having control over their own bodies is about power. She believes that when women are able to take care of their health, they can use their bodies as economic vehicles for themselves, their families, and their communities. Ultimately, having control over their health empowers women to have political influence as well.