Celebrating International Women’s Day by honouring female leaders and their remarkable contributions

In a series of webinars celebrating International Women’s Day (08 March), Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board this week highlighted the invaluable contributions of women in healthcare and beyond.

Dr Sanhita Chakrabarti, deputy chief medical officer at the Integrated Care Board led the #LadiesMakeYour10MinsCount webinar, which was dedicated to addressing the challenges women faced in articulating their health needs during consultations.  She introduced user-friendly self-assessment tools, encouraging women to dedicate just 10 minutes a day to assess their health ahead of appointments.  This approach ensured that consultations with healthcare professionals were as effective and impactful as possible.

Alice Holland, senior staff nurse in theatres, chief nurse fellow, and chair of the Black and Minority Ethnic Staff Network at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was the speaker at the #EmpoweringWomeninLeadership webinar, where she shared her inspiring journey of resilience and success within the NHS.  She offered practical advice and strategies for career growth, empowerment, and navigating challenges in healthcare leadership.

These sessions sought to encourage women, amplify inspiring narratives, and equip them with practical tools for self-advocacy and leadership.  By fostering a sense of community and empowerment, a renewed dedication to nurturing the potential and achievements of women in both their professional and personal endeavours was firmly established.  This commitment underscores the ongoing efforts to support and uplift women, ensuring their voices and contributions are recognised and valued.

Other events are celebrating women across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes:

• LOWD Breast Screening event: The Bedford Caribbean LOWD (Ladies of Windrush Descendants) are invited to Fujifilm in Bedford for a special breast screening event in honour of International Women’s Day.  This initiative aims to promote the importance of early detection and raise awareness about breast health within the community, with Fujifilm providing comprehensive screening services to empower women to take charge of their health.
• Celebrating women this Ramadan: Hawaa Empower invited the community to celebrate IWD and Ramadan together, featuring inspiring Muslim female speakers from various leadership roles across the UK.  The event included breaking the fast, a three-course meal, and fundraising for a local charity, aiming to raise awareness and inspire women to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

Felicity Cox, chief executive of Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, said:

“Celebrating women and recognising the great female leaders in our system is crucial, especially on International Women’s Day.  Their contributions and leadership have a profound impact on our community, driving progress and fostering an inclusive environment.  By honouring their achievements, we not only empower future generations of women but also strengthen the foundation of our healthcare system.

“It’s vital that we also continue to support and uplift all inspiring women, ensuring their voices and efforts are acknowledged and valued every day.  Through these events, we aim to honour the remarkable female leaders who are driving progress in our system and to inspire others to follow their example.  We also recognise and value the women who are the lynchpins of families and communities across our area.”