Empower OneMama Health Clinic to Sustainability!

As an ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organization (NGO), we are honored to be able to bring a voice for the OneMama village to the United Nations CSW66 world stage…virtually!

The OneMama delegates and family are optimistic through the ups and downs surrounding the past few years of unprecedented times that are causing great strain on the work OneMama does, as it has for many NGOs. We are excited to ride the motivation leading up to the CSW in order to continue our work towards lasting change on a global scale and in conformity with the 2022 CSW themes. 

THANK YOU to all who attended and helped make this event a great community success!

You can find our event page HERE for all the details. We were able to capture the event live and you can find that HERE and below:

This year, the 66^th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66), the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment, will take place from 14 to 25 of March, under the following themes:

• Priority theme: Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes;
• Review theme: Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work (agreed conclusions of the sixty-first session);

Since last year’s session was strictly virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s session will be a hybrid version with main sessions on the UN campus in New York City and all side and parallel events held virtually.

More Resources:

• CSW 66 official documents
• Side events

UN released data shows that progress to achieve gender equality in public life and decision-making has been too slow.

• Women make up 25 per cent of parliamentarians globally, and only three countries have 50 per cent or more women in parliament.
• Less than one per cent of parliamentarians are women under 30 years of age.
• Women make up only 13 per cent of negotiators, 6 per cent of mediators and 6 per cent of signatories in formal peace processes.
• In 2020, only 7.4 per cent of Fortune 500 companies were run by women.
• Just 22 countries in the world are headed by a woman.

At the current rate of progress, it will take another 130 years to reach gender equality at the highest positions of power.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted women disproportionately – from loss of jobs to rise in violence against women and unpaid care work. Although women are at the front line of COVID-19 response as healthcare workers, innovators and leaders, their contributions remain less visible and less valued. Only 3.5 per cent of COVID-19 task forces across 87 countries had gender parity.

So, what happens when women lead? Evidence shows that when women are in power, they invest in often-overlooked policy measures – from expanding healthcare and education to green economies and ending violence against women – that ultimately build sustainable and resilient futures.

Building back better from COVID-19 needs women at the centre, leading, making decisions that serve the planet, address inequalities, and achieve equal power-sharing.

Achieving gender equality in leadership and decision-making is possible. Gender quotas in legislatures and other sectors, zero tolerance to violence, special measures that enable women to enter the political pipeline, and dedicated funding to women’s organizations, have proven to be catalytic in bringing change.

The global COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to the advancement and security of women. Its impact on rural communities worldwide proved particularly devastating with women trapped in domestic violence situations, limited access to medical care, and a veritable collapse of economic opportunities.

Building an inclusive and effective path for the sustainable and resilient recovery from the pandemic while honoring the 2030 Agenda and principle of “ensuring that no one is left behind” at the global, regional and national levels is crucial.

As an NGO supporting the rural community of Kirindi in Uganda (East Africa), OneMama is an emblematic case study of the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic both exacerbated and enhanced for rural communities and their women globally. OneMama Inc. promotes sustainable development, maternal health, and community health in a rural model and advocates for sustainable and resilient recovery through our unique programming. We advocate for building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda particularly around the SDGs that closely align with our program and work: Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), Goal 5 (Gender Equality), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Sustainable development will not holistically happen until rural women and their communities are considered.

In rural areas in Uganda, particularly that of Kirindi, COVID-19 restrictions on transportation (motorcycle and buses) have made it extremely difficult for women to get to our health clinic without walking long distances while pregnant or suffering from illnesses. COVID-19 restrictions also put a halt on all community meetings, craft and OneMama collection women’s group meetings, including our ability to offer limited domestic violence prevention trainings.

Sales of agricultural crops in physical market places shrunk drastically due to contact restrictions and transportation cuts. All these restrictions are also making it hard to get medical supplies like our birth control and medications. Simple home COVID-19 tests have been impossible to access so we can’t track it in our community. The vaccines that have been made recently will most likely never reach our community and if they do they also may not keep since we don’t have the kind of refrigeration needed to protect the vaccine. Domestic violence has increased significantly with the lock downs, giving the women no alternatives to flee or free themselves.

We recommend the following actions to ensure rural women in all global communities are not left behind as developed parts of the world rise from the pandemic more rapidly:

• Tracking health issues we suspect to be COVID-19 due to absence of testing and official tracking. We are watching and communicating daily with our patients and community and increasing medical supplies for both the birthing and medical clinic.
• Obtaining and administering COVID-19 vaccines to all staff and high risk community members.
• Hosting community education days on COVID-19, birthing, family planning, best practices in self-care and domestic violence prevention.
• Searching for funding and partnerships as international restrictions halted 75% of funding.

A partner to provide COVID-19 testing and a vaccine that is distributable in rural areas without refrigeration access.

To donate to OneMama’s programs, click here.

If you are interested to be a OneMama UN Delegate, click here.

Interested in hearing about our past trips to the CSW? Recaps from past years:

CSW65 2021
CSW64 2020
CSW63 2019
CSW62 2018
CSW61 2017
CSW60 2016
CSW59 2015

OneMama, since being awarded Consultative ECOSOC status with the United Nations in late 2019, has a powerful advantage to select delegates to join OneMama at the CSW virtual event from the UN in New York City, March 14-25, 2022. And we’d like to offer you that opportunity to be a part of this exciting event with us!

At this year’s 50th anniversary and sixty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the theme is at the heart of OneMama’s cause! 

We are looking to IMMEDIATELY add to our already existing incredible delegate team, and we want to open up the opportunity to YOU to join the OneMama family on such a meaningful mission. Being a UN delegate with OneMama is an inspiring, unique experience, and we want to fill these remaining slots with passionate people who align with the OneMama vision. 

As a OneMama UN Delegate, you have the incredible opportunity to be an active part of our causes’ public Parallel Event. This event not only provides a space and voice for NGO OneMama.org, but also allows for education and galvanizing around different issues and topics within the feminist and women’s movements that are such an integral part of the work we do at OneMama. 

Aside from being there for OneMama, you will also be able to attend any of the other of hundreds of CSW66 parallel and side events via this year’s virtual forum where you can gain insight, share your visions and voice, and become current on all areas of the CSW from a variety of NGOs across the globe! 

• Passionate and excited about moving the needle for change for unrepresented rural communities of women leaders both internationally and nationally. 
• Moved by the specific work OneMama does to support global change for social equality and economic sustainability. 
• Inspired to change policy and address key issues in this field through the United Nations platform. 

If you have a passion for these issues and learning how to be more involved and to attend the CSW with OneMama this year, please SIGN-UP HERE.

• Must be 18 years of age or older to apply.
• Committed to attend the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) virtually events held March 14-25th, 2022. 
• Committed to attend and participate in OneMama’s NGO CSW66 Forum Parallel event on 3/18/22 12:00 PM EST titled Woman Led Global Funding Solutions from Social Entrepreneurs. 
• Becoming a OneMama Action Alliance member. If you are not a OneMama member yet, learn more and sign-up by clicking HERE (select one of the three membership options or simply donate any denomination you can contribute).
• Complete our the online registration process for the NGO CSW66 Virtual Forum (link provided once you signup with OneMama first here.

If you are passionate about OneMama.org, the empowerment of underrepresented women, girls, and children, and the themes of the CSW66, we look forward to hearing from you and being a part of this change for women’s rights together!

The OneMama Action Alliance Family

OneMama, since being awarded Consultative ECOSOC status with the United Nations in late 2019, has a powerful advantage to select delegates to join OneMama at the CSW virtual event from the UN in New York City, March 14-25, 2022. 

At this year’s 50th anniversary and sixty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the theme is at the heart of OneMama’s cause! 

We are looking to IMMEDIATELY add to our already existing incredible delegate team, and we want to open up the opportunity to YOU to join the OneMama family on such a meaningful mission. Being a UN delegate with OneMama is an inspiring, unique experience, and we want to fill these remaining slots with passionate people who align with the OneMama vision. 

As a OneMama UN Delegate, you have the incredible opportunity to speak at and be an active part of our causes’ public Parallel Event. This event not only provides a space and voice for NGO OneMama.org, but also allows for education and galvanizing around different issues and topics within the feminist and women’s movements that are such an integral part of the work we do at OneMama.

• Passionate and excited about moving the needle for change for unrepresented rural communities of women leaders both internationally and nationally. 
• Moved by the specific work OneMama does to support global change for social equality and economic sustainability. 
• Inspired to change policy and address key issues in this field through the United Nations platform. 

We will be hand choosing individuals based on their passion and areas of expertise best equipped to help carry out the OneMama fight to help amplify the voices of those who can’t be heard. 

• Must be 18 years of age or older to apply.
• Commit to attend the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) virtually event March 14-25th, 2022. 
• Commit to attend and participate in OneMama’s NGO CSW66 Forum Parallel event. Complete details to come. 
• Become a OneMama Action Alliance member. If you are not a OneMama member yet, learn more and sign-up by clicking HERE (select one of the three membership options).
• Complete our application form online (shortened, since this event is not in-person).
• Submit a written one-page narrative why you would be a good fit to our delegate team while highlighting your specialties. Also explain why the themes for the CSW65 are important to you. Include your resume, CV, and/or letters of endorsements. (You may submit these documents with your application form online.)

• Attend all virtual events that are assigned to you and write a summary report regarding each event.
• Contribute to writing a blog post regarding the event for our OneMama blog and social media.
• Uphold personal social media requirements.

If you are passionate about OneMama.org, the empowerment of underrepresented women, girls, and children, and the themes of the CSW66, we look forward to hearing from you. Your application is in great hands!

Thank You and Best of Luck, 

The OneMama Action Alliance Family

“My mother was the clinic doctor in Pito Real, and the Tarahumara/Raramuri Sierras, one of the most dangerous and rough geographies in Northern Mexico.”

-Gabriela Hofmeyer, a OneMama U.N Delegate talks with me over a zoom call late last month.

Siobhan Neilland, OneMama CEO and founder was so moved by a report Gabriela wrote about her time at the CSW in March. In the midst of her thought-provoking notes about her session take-aways was a story about her mother that moved us all. 

The parallels between Gabriela’s mother’s work in Mexico and the work OneMama is doing in rural Uganda is breathtaking. Both beautifully challenging stories, led by incredibly strong woman, with the mission to provide the best possible care for their communities. Two parts of the world, separated by years, but the goal was the same – bringing care to those that had little to no access to the services they needed to thrive. 

“She was not just the only doctor in this area at the time, but the only female doctor to have been assigned to this remote and harsh area of Mexico.” 

Gabriela described the difficulties which her mother faced in working in such a difficult environment, “The area is extremely dangerous; the terrain and weather are harsh.” 

“The only way to reach these areas of the Sierra Madre were by foot, horse or donkey. My mother’s makeshift train car clinic with donated medical supplies would be dropped off in a desolate stretch of land for up to 3 months with no scheduled return date.” 

Like OneMama, Gabriela’s mother worked closely with midwives and healers during her time in Mexico. 

“Most of my mother’s medical cases involved complicated pregnancies, family planning, maternal-fetal health and medicine, nutrition, injuries from violence and farming or rail accidents. Eventually the clinic became self-sustaining and was able to focus on preventative care and dental health too.” 

Gabriela recounted stories of helicopters dropping supplies from the sky because there was no safe place to land. 

“Sometimes the packages we would receive did not match the needs of the village, but we were always grateful for what we received.”

She developed partnerships with Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders, along with other international organizations and initiatives. 

“She also had visiting scientists and engineers developed potable water systems, sanitation and autoclave for surgeries and dental procedures.”

Gabriela also shared with me that even to this day medical personal are provided with train passes to make their work with patients easier – a policy put into place because her mother advocated for it. 

Overtime the clinic become more self-sustainable, “the need for days of travel to the closest hospital became less and less.” Which is a goal for OneMama as well – to provide sustainable operations that do not revolve around a few people, but a whole community through programs and initiatives that will live on for years to come. 

The last time Gabriela’s mom visited the clinic was in 2001, and she was happy to see it was still in operation. This gives us hope that OneMama will also stand the test of time and continue to provide care that is sustainable and lasting.  

We are grateful for the story Gabriela shared and celebrate her mothers work, while also celebrating Gabriela’s contribution to OneMama. <3