Achieving Equality for Women’s Health and Beyond
In recognition of the International Day of Action for Women’s Health, Dame Claire Bertschinger DL spoke to News Medical about what changes need to be made to achieve gender equality.
Following on from a successful nursing career in the UK, Claire’s first post abroad was as a medic for the Scientific Exploration Society in Panama Papua New Guinea and Sulawesi. She went on to accumulate vast experience from many years working in emergency disaster relief, primarily in war zones, with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Prior to joining the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Claire worked as training officer in the Health Division of ICRC Geneva.
She now trains other medical professionals to work in resource poor settings and low to middle-income countries of the world and continually seeks to raise awareness of the key issues in global public health. Increasingly, Claire has become convinced of the centrality of education, particularly of women, in making and sustaining any improvements.
Claire was honoured as Dame Commander of British Empire by the Queen in 2009 New Years Honours List, for services to Nursing and to International Humanitarian Aid.