Breaking Barriers, Balancing Roles: Muslim Women in Healthcare — Challenges and the Way Forward

This presentation by Prof. Aisha Indo Mamman explores the evolving role of Muslim women in healthcare, highlighting their historical foundations, contemporary challenges, and practical pathways forward. It offers a thoughtful examination of how professional responsibilities intersect with societal expectations, family life, and faith.

The session begins by redefining womanhood through spiritual, social, and nurturing lenses, emphasizing women as life-givers, educators, and sustainers of society. It traces the transformation of women’s status from pre-Islamic Arabia to the early Islamic era, where women actively participated in scholarship, enterprise, and healthcare, before later cultural practices limited their visibility.

Drawing from traditional Arabian and Nigerian societies, the presentation documents women’s long-standing contributions to healthcare — including midwifery, maternal care, herbal medicine, nursing, and family health management. It then examines the impact of colonialism and secular education, which introduced formal healthcare professions but also imposed new intellectual, physical, and social pressures on Muslim women.

Key challenges discussed include long and demanding training periods, conflicts between career progression and family life, patriarchal norms, financial burdens, workplace discrimination, burnout, emotional strain, weak support systems, and limited role models. These challenges are shown to be universal rather than region-specific.

The presentation concludes with a strong call to action, proposing solutions such as scholarships, philanthropy, mentorship, childcare support, supportive workplace policies, community engagement, and stronger family involvement. It emphasizes that empowering Muslim women in healthcare strengthens health systems, improves family wellbeing, and benefits society at large.

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1JtKk9pPUmKwCmOy_XGjVFwnF0je0bvHy/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=103466228302147614731&rtpof=true&sd=true