Calgary's McMahon Stadium has been temporarily renamed 'McWomahon Stadium' for the next six weeks as part of a campaign by the Alberta Women's Health Foundation and Calgary Wild FC to raise awareness about the underfunding and underrepresentation of women's health research.

The $1.5 million funding gap in Alberta's women's health research

The campaign highlights a significant disparity in research funding, with women's health initiatives receiving substantially less support compared to general health programs. According to the Alberta Women's Health Foundation, for every dollar spent on health research, only a fraction is allocated to women-specific issues. This underfunding affects critical areas such as pregnancy and postpartum health, chronic conditions impacting women, and Indigenous women's health equity.

'McWomahon' graphics flood Calgary's social media and streets

As part of the campaign, Calgarians will see 'McWomahon' graphics prominently displayed on social media and throughout the city. The rebranding aims to spark conversations and draw attention to the gender bias in sport science and medicine, which often overlooks the unique health needs and experiences of women.

The season-long 50/50 program to fund women's health initiatives

The Alberta Women's Health Foundation is also launching a season-long 50/50 program to raise funds for women's health research and care across the province . The initiative will support various programs , including those focused on pregnancy and postpartum health, chronic conditions impacting women, Indigenous women's health equity, and addressing gender bias in sport science and medicine.

Who is leading the charge for gender equity in health research?

The campaign is led by the Alberta Women's Health Foundation in partnership with Calgary Wild FC. however, the broader question remains:who else will step up to address the systemic underfunding and underrepresentation of women's health research? The campaign serves as a call to action for other organizations, policymakers, and the public to prioritize and invest in women's health initiatives.