International Women’s Day, March 8, signifies more than a single day can encompass. At MSH, International Women’s Day is a day for celebrating women health leaders who inspire change and an opportunity to recommit ourselves to another year of action toward gender equity.

We celebrate International Women’s Day with Drs. Suraya Dalil and Florence Guillaume, Ministers of Health from Afghanistan and Haiti.

Watch their video message to women around the world:

We pay homage to the women who have come before us; we stand on their shoulders. We acknowledge their courage, sacrifice, and commitment, allowing women today to dream of a future with more possibilities for next generations of women and girls.

We celebrate International Women’s Day with African women leaders, including Catherine Namugala, Saudatu Sani, and Thandi Shongwe, members of parliaments of Zambia, Nigeria, and Swaziland.

We remember that this celebration does not mark the end of a struggle to achieve global gender equality, but a time for recommitment.

We chart a new beginning.

We recommit ourselves to take on the challenges which prevent women from achieving their full potential and having the opportunity for a healthy life.

As a female leader, I have continued to face challenges simply because I am a woman. My advice to future women leaders is to believe in themselves and not be discouraged by those who think that because they are born women, they cannot aspire to positions of leadership.

~Catherine Namugala, Member of Parliament in Zambia

We remember the progress and give thanks.

We acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead. We boldly face institutionalized struggles—conditions of poverty and inequalities entrenched in patriarchal systems which dominate our landscape. 

Some say, “How can a woman represent us?”

~Saudatu Sani, Member of Parliament in Nigeria

We capitalize on opportunities--privileged to work in health systems strengthening where investing in women produces great dividends. We create partnerships and alliances, and mentor new generations of women.

Women need courage to go into leadership positions and look at themselves differently than the way society looks at them.

~Thandi Shongwe, Member of Parliament in Swaziland

We address the health of a nation, a region, a whole community, and a family, by addressing the health needs of women and girls.  

[My priority is] a world where no woman or young girl suffers abuse simply because of her gender. A world where no woman dies in childbirth because those in decision-making positions have not accorded women’s health the attention it deserves.

~Namugala

International Women’s Day is so many things that we wonder why we are confined to one day… Every day should be International Women’s Day. We say: Celebrate women every day!

How will you celebrate International Women's Day and inspire change?

• Watch video: International Women’s Day 2014: Celebrating Women Health Leaders
• Hear more from Namugala, Sani, and Shongwe, and other African women leaders in: "An Open Mind and a Hard Back: Conversations with African Women Leaders"
• Read more about why gender equity matters in MSH's Global Health Impact newsletter
• Join the International Women's Day conversation on Twitter @MSHHealthImpact with hashtags: #CelebrateWomen, #WOMENLEAD, #WomensDay, #InspiringChange, and #IWD2014.

How are you celebrating women health leaders and inspiring change? Who do you celebrate? Who inspires change? Women leaders like Dalil, Guillaume, and Namugala? Your mother, sister, daughter, mentor? Tell me in the blog comments or tag @MSHHealthImpact on Facebook or @MSHHealthImpact" href="https://twitter.com/MSHHealthImpact" data-cke-saved-href="https://twitter.com/MSHHealthImpact">Twitter with hashtags #CelebrateWomen, #InspiringChange, and #WOMENLEAD.