February 05, 2024
This year’s Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, a tournament which celebrates the power of women on and off the court, will host two panel discussions for invitees, focused on the most pressing health issues facing women and girls across the region and around the world and solutions to allow them to live healthier, more productive lives.
Taking place on Tuesday, 6 February as part of the tournament’s Mubadala Women’s Day, the panel discussions, hosted by the WTA Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and WTA Tour title sponsor Hologic, aim to bring greater visibility, priority, and resources to women’s health and nutrition.
The second installment of the all-female tennis tournament on the Hologic WTA Tour returns to the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City on February 3-11, with many of the world’s best players, including Elena Rybakina, Ons Jabeur and Maria Sakkari, along with wildcard entrants Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka, set to complete for glory.
Ann Austin, WTA Foundation Executive Director: “The latest Hologic Global Women’s Health Index found three in 10 women cannot afford the food or shelter they or their families need, and that billions of women went untested for potentially life-threatening conditions in the past year. This is unacceptable. Together with our partners, we hope to shine a light on these health gaps and drive impact for women and girls everywhere.”
Sarah Buhayar, Director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Gender Norms Learning Agenda, added: “Healthy women help everyone rise. Yet today, more than one billion women and girls are undernourished, and on average spend 25% more of their lives in poor health than men. We must ensure they have access to the healthcare and nutrition they need to perform better in school, grow their income, and strengthen their communities.”
The event will feature roundtable discussions highlighting topics such as the state of women’s health and nutrition in the United Arab Emirates and around the world, critical funding gaps, and opportunities for new collaborations.