WHO is making gender mainstreaming a priority across its offices in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The Organization’s country office in Pakistan offers a good example.
In June 2021, Regional Director Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari and WHO Representative to Pakistan Dr Palitha Mahipala inaugurated a well-equipped daycare centre in the office to support all staff. The service is currently used by mainly female staff. Designed for children under-5 years of age, the new centre includes a breastfeeding room, an outdoor playground and more to accommodate their needs within a safe and secure environment.
The daycare centre has positively contributed to creating an inclusive, respectable and equitable environment where female staff can exercise and utilize their work opportunities and rights with dignity and peace of mind.
The facility enables women to continuously play their pivotal role in addressing multiple health challenges on the platform of WHO Pakistan
Working mothers’ nannies take care of their children at the daycare centre during office hours, meaning they can concentrate on their jobs while still being able to see their children when they need to.
The working mothers are happy as they can fully focus on their work, and also check on their littles ones
Syeda Sara Saeed, a Team Assistant in the Health Systems Development Department who has been based in the Pakistan country office for 9 years, says the centre enables mothers to forge ahead with their careers without sacrificing precious contact with their young children.
It is always convenient for mothers to be able to check on their young ones when they have the time
In addition, a state-of-the-art gym at the office provides dedicated time slots in which women staff can exercise in a way that is comfortable and suits their preferences.
Currently, most staff members in the Pakistan country office are male, and initiatives such as the daycare centre and culturally-sensitive gym arrangements are helping to ensure that there is a suitable working environment for all.
