The BBC has announced the names of 100 “inspiring and influential women” worldwide in observance of their yearly tradition, honoring their contributions to society. Two Pakistani women were added to the list, which was released on Tuesday. They are Afroze-Numa, a Wakhi shepherdess, and Neha Mankani, a midwife and advocate for women’s health.
The two ladies are featured with notable people like Hollywood star America Ferrera, human rights attorney Amal Clooney, former US First Lady Michelle Obama, AI specialist Timnit Gebru, Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, feminist icon Gloria Steinem, and beauty mogul Huda Kattan.
Afroze-Numa, who is considered as “one of the last Wakhi shepherdesses,” is recognized by the BBC for her community work in maintaining the ancient customs. She devoted nearly thirty years of her life to caring for goats, yaks, and sheep, and the significance of the family trade—which is currently in danger of disappearing in Pakistan’s Shimshal valley—is highlighted by her name.
Herds of sheep to high-altitude pastures 4,800 meters (16,000 feet) above sea level are led by Wakhi shepherdesses. They ensure their cows graze while producing dairy products for barter in this rough terrain. The village is now prosperous and able to afford to send their kids to school thanks to the money made.
Mankani received praise for her efforts to alleviate the effects of the climate calamity, especially in the wake of the devastating floods that hit Pakistan last year. In order to share her knowledge of negotiating “low-resourced settings, emergency response, and climate-affected communities,” the midwife-social worker traveled to the impacted areas.
Mankani, the founder of Mama Baby Fund, and her colleagues provided over 15,000 flood-affected families with life-saving delivery supplies and midwifery support. In order to guarantee the safe transportation of expectant mothers living in coastal towns, the maternity care organization intends to launch a boat ambulance service.
“The work of midwives in communities facing climate-related disasters is vital,” Mankani said in an interview with the BBC. As first responders and climate activists, we ensure that women can access the prenatal, postpartum, and reproductive healthcare they require even in the face of rapidly worsening circumstances.
The list, which includes 28 Climate Pioneers in addition to Mankani, emphasizes the severity of catastrophes linked to climate change and the requirement for prevention and adaptation measures. Extreme heatwaves and flooding, which disproportionately affected already marginalized groups, saw a sharp increase in 2023.
The BBC launched “100 Women,” a multiformat series, in 2013. The annual series looks at how women’s roles have changed in the twenty-first century. In addition to “climate pioneers,” other categories are “entertainment and sport,” “science, health, and tech,” “culture and education,” and “politics and advocacy.”
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