The Democratic Republic of Congo's health sector has initiated a capacity-building workshop for female unionists, aiming to enhance their leadership, emotional intelligence, and advocacy skills. The workshop, launched in Kinshasa, focuses on themes such as leadership, human capital, emotional intelligence, advocacy, and mobilization of funding. The initiative is led by the Intersyndicale du Secteur Santé (ISS), a union representing health sector workers.
Dr. Body Ilonga, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, emphasized the significance of this initiative, noting that it marks a paradigm shift in the health sector. He highlighted the importance of equipping unions with the necessary capacities to support the implementation of Universal Health Coverage. Dr. Ilonga also underscored the complementarity of this initiative with the ongoing training project for state agents (FORCO), launched by the Deputy Prime Minister of Public Service.
The workshop's trainer, Dr. Michel Muvudi, structured his approach around three strategic dimensions: societal, economic, and human capital. He emphasized that women are the backbone of a country's development, influencing the first 1,000 days of life and participating in education. Dr. Muvudi stressed the need to develop women's capacities and competencies to enable them to better defend their rights.
Dr. Muvudi further highlighted the importance of promoting female leadership, which enables women to define a vision and drive transformations necessary for societal development. He encouraged the participants to become agents of change, contributing to the development of their communities. The workshop aims to empower women to take on leadership roles and make a positive impact in their respective areas.
Jean-Fidèle Boyoo, Coordinator of the ISS, emphasized that the choice to train female unionists reflects the innovative vision of health sector unions. He believes that enhanced leadership and emotional intelligence skills will contribute to a more inclusive and effective union movement. Boyoo expressed his hope that the beneficiaries of this workshop will actively participate in the refoundation of the ISS, applying the skills and knowledge acquired.
The ISS aims to improve union dynamics, support the implementation of sectoral policies, and promote participatory unionism in the health sector through this capacity-building initiative. The workshop is expected to equip female unionists with the necessary skills to contribute to the development of the health sector and advocate for the rights of health workers.
The capacity-building workshop is a significant step towards promoting female leadership and empowerment in the DR Congo's health sector. By enhancing the skills and competencies of female unionists, the ISS aims to create a more inclusive and effective union movement that contributes to the development of the health sector and improves the lives of citizens.
Key points
- The DR Congo's health sector has launched a capacity-building workshop for female unionists to enhance their leadership and advocacy skills.
- The workshop focuses on themes such as leadership, human capital, emotional intelligence, advocacy, and mobilization of funding.
- The initiative aims to promote female leadership and empowerment in the health sector, contributing to the development of the sector and improved lives for citizens.
