The International Day of Women and Girls in Science takes place each year on 11 February. The Day is implemented by UNESCO and UN Women, in collaboration with intergovernmental agencies and institutions, as well as civil society partners, that aim to promote women and girls in science. This Day is celebrated around the world and is an opportunity to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls.
Pharmacy Forum NI encourages our NI pharmacists and stakeholders to engage with us on Twitter on the occasion to promote the role of women in pharmacy.
Data from the PSNI Equality Monitoring Form 2020-21 shows that it is predominantly women who make up the NI pharmacy workforce. In terms of our recent activity aimed at promoting the place of women in NI pharmacy, Pharmacy Forum NI’s second Equality, Diversity & Inclusion webinar held 27 July focused on the theme: Gender & Equality of Opportunity. A range of subjects were covered during the event including the challenges faced by women in the workplace and how to turn those challenges into opportunities; fostering collaboration not competition; why gender balance leads to better decision-making in business; benefits of flexible working in community pharmacy; the pitfalls of ‘imposter syndrome’ and the importance of being confident to push ahead professionally; sex equality laws related to employment; and a visionary role for pharmacy in supporting transgender people in healthcare.
In addition, to prepare for the future of NI pharmacy and to ensure a pipeline of talent, the last phase of the Pharmacy Futures NI attract and recruit campaign focused on outreach to post-primary students, encouraging them to make pharmacy as their career of choice.