Today, on International Rural Tag , we honor all women who form the backbone of their communities! Geni Mabelya and Joan Laizer at St. Walburg’s Hospital in Tanzania. Geni, who studied psychology and public health, has been leading the Community Healthcare for over 5 years. Together with her colleague Joan Laizer, our two project coordinators tackle health problems directly at their root and strengthen prevention efforts in the villages around Nyangao in the Lindi region. With their team, they educate women and families on topics such as hygiene and healthy nutrition. The two also provide information on domestic violence and, if necessary, refer cases to the social welfare officer. Various medical check-ups for children, women, and men are also offered; these are carried out by specialist staff from the hospital and are gratefully accepted by an ever-increasing number of the rural population. Thanks to their commitment, they are constantly reaching more village communities and enabling more and more people to access healthcare and health awareness.

The successful work of Geni and Joan shows how important it is to invest in women in rural areas in order to advance global health and development.