By Jim Yong Kim
Since the Zika outbreak gained global attention earlier this year, photos of babies with microcephaly have appeared on television screens and newspapers around the world. They have become emblems of the human cost of the virus, though a causal link between Zika and the congenital birth defect is yet to be confirmed.
One thing, though, is certain: Behind each of these babies is a mother, many of them rural women living in poverty who are without adequate access to sanitation, health information, and other services. The Zika outbreak has given the world a stark reminder that women’s needs and health must be a priority in global and national prevention and response efforts.
Just days ago, on International Women’s Day, we were reminded that we need to give special attention to gender gaps in health. They remain unacceptably large, especially for women in developing countries who, for example, account for 99 per cent of
