Mental Health

Gender Inequality: A Threat to the Health, Safety, and Rights of Women and Girls in Nigeria

Leave a Comment / Community Development, End FGM, Female Genital Mutilation, Female Roles in Nation Building, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Girl Education, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, International Day of Rural Women, Mental Health, Monday Health Burst, Reproductive Health, SDG, Speak Wednesday, Special Events, Stop FGM, Uncategorized, WHO, Women, Women Education, Women in Leadership, Women's Rights /

Gender inequality remains a deeply entrenched threat to the health, safety, and rights of women and girls in Nigeria, undermining progress toward equitable development and directly shaping outcomes in health, education, economic participation, political representation, and freedom from violence. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nigeria ranks 147 out of 191 countries on the Gender Inequality Index, reflecting large disparities between men and women in reproductive health, empowerment, and labour market participation. ¹ These inequalities manifest in real and measurable ways that compromise the wellbeing and opportunities of women and girls across the country.

One of the most profound impacts of gender inequality in Nigeria is observed in health outcomes. The maternal mortality ratio remains unacceptably high at 512 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, indicating that women are still at disproportionate risk during pregnancy and childbirth compared to global averages. ² Factors driving this include limited access to quality reproductive health services, lack of autonomy in health decision-making, and economic barriers that delay care-seeking. Research shows that women who lack financial independence or decision-making power are less likely to utilise antenatal care or deliver in health facilities, increasing the likelihood of preventable complications. ³

Education is another field deeply affected by gender inequality. UNESCO reports that girls’ school completion rates in Nigeria lag boys’, particularly at the secondary level, a gap that translates into reduced opportunities for advanced learning, better jobs, and informed health choices later in life. ⁴ Early marriage, still prevalent in many regions, significantly contributes to school dropout rates among girls. UNICEF estimates that 43% of girls in Nigeria are married before their 18th birthday, limiting educational attainment and exposing them to early pregnancy and increased health risks such as obstetric fistula and maternal mortality. ⁵

Gender-based violence (GBV) is another grave consequence of systemic inequality. The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) reveals that around 30% of ever-married women aged 15–49 have experienced physical violence, with many cases going unreported due to stigma, fear, and weak legal enforcement. ⁶ Violence affects not only physical health but also leads to long-term psychological trauma, increased vulnerability to HIV infection, and reduced participation in economic and community life. ⁷

Political inequality further illustrates the scale of exclusion. In the current 10th National Assembly (2023–2027), women remain severely underrepresented in national decision-making. Out of 109 Senate seats, only 4 are held by women (approximately 3.7%), while 105 seats (96.3%) are held by men. In the House of Representatives, only 17 out of 360 seats are occupied by women (approximately 4.7%), compared to 343 men. Altogether, women hold just 21 out of 469 seats in the National Assembly, representing about 4.2% of federal lawmakers.¹⁰ This means that despite women making up nearly half of Nigeria’s population, their voice in shaping laws and policies that directly affect their health, safety, and rights remains below 5% — one of the lowest representation rates in the region.¹¹ Limited political participation restricts the advancement of gender-responsive policies and slows progress on critical issues such as maternal health funding, protection from violence, and equal economic opportunities.

Economic inequality further compounds these threats. Although women actively participate in Nigeria’s labour force, wage gaps, informal employment, and occupational segregation persist. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report highlights that women often earn less than men for similar work and remain underrepresented in leadership positions. ⁸ Without economic empowerment, many women are unable to afford essential health services, invest in their education, or break cycles of poverty and dependency.

These disparities are not inevitable; they are shaped by social norms, discriminatory practices, and gaps in policy implementation. Research consistently shows that gender-responsive policies including universal access to reproductive healthcare, enforcement of laws against child marriage, protection from gender-based violence, equal educational opportunities, and increased political inclusion significantly improve health, economic, and social outcomes. ⁹

Addressing gender inequality is therefore not only a moral obligation but also a public health, governance, and economic priority. When women and girls have equal access to education, healthcare, leadership opportunities, and economic resources, maternal and infant mortality decline, household incomes rise, communities become safer, and national development accelerates. Nigeria cannot achieve sustainable development while half of its population remains structurally disadvantaged.

We call on the Federal and State Governments to strengthen and fully enforce laws protecting women and girls from discrimination and violence, expand access to quality healthcare services, promote girls’ education, and implement affirmative measures to increase women’s political representation. Development partners, civil society, and community leaders must intensify advocacy, scale up gender-responsive programming, and challenge harmful norms that sustain inequality. Every sector health, education, justice, governance, and economic development must mainstream gender equity as a foundational principle. The health, safety, and rights of Nigeria’s women and girls demand bold, sustained, and collective action.

References

  1. UNDP Gender Inequality Index
    https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/thematic-composite-indices/gender-inequality-index
  2. WHO Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000–2023
    https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240068759
  3. Journal of Women’s Health – Decision-Making Power & Maternal Service Utilisation
    https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/jwh.2020.8805
  4. UNESCO Institute for Statistics – Girls’ Education
    https://uis.unesco.org/en/topic/girls-education
  5. UNICEF – Child Marriage in Nigeria
    https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/child-marriage/
  6. Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS)
    https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR379/FR379.pdf
  7. WHO – Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates
    https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240022256
  8. World Economic Forum – Global Gender Gap Report 2023
    https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2023.pdf
  9. Journal of Gender & Development – Gender-Responsive Policies
    https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13552074.2021.1952743
  10. The Nation Newspaper – Women in the 10th National Assembly
    https://thenationonlineng.net/meet-the-only-four-female-senators-in-10th-nass/
  11. The Guardian Nigeria – Women’s Representation in N’Assembly
    https://guardian.ng/news/national/only-4-5-of-nassembly-members-are-women-says-wilan-report/

Gender Inequality: A Threat to the Health, Safety, and Rights of Women and Girls in Nigeria Read More »

The Role of Families and Communities in Preventing FGM

Leave a Comment / Attention Deficit, Child Labour, ChildNotBride, Community Development, Cultural practices in Africa, End FGM, Events, Female Genital Mutilation, Female Roles in Nation Building, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Girl Education, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, Mental Health, Monday Health Burst, Nation Building, Reproductive Health, Women, Women's Rights /

In the landscape of global health in 2026, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) stands as one of the most persistent violations of human rights, yet the tide is beginning to turn through sophisticated, community-led interventions. As of this year, over 230 million women and girls alive today have undergone the procedure, and UNICEF projects that 4.5 million more remain at risk in 2026 alone [1]. The struggle to end this practice is no longer just a legal battle; it has evolved into a deep-rooted cultural shift focusing on the intersection of family protection and communal health [4].

The prevention of FGM begins at the heart of the home, where families are being empowered to dismantle the “social obligation” myth. Recent research from the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme indicates that when mothers are provided with formal education and economic agency, the likelihood of their daughters being cut drops significantly [3]. Families are now being reached through “Positive Masculinity” programs, where over 800,000 men and boys have pledged to protect their female relatives, challenging the outdated notion that FGM is a prerequisite for marriageability [3]. By addressing the family as the primary decision-making unit, advocacy groups are successfully replacing fear of social exclusion with a shared commitment to a daughter’s physical integrity and future health.

Moving beyond the front door, the most effective preventative measure in 2026 has been the rise of Public Declarations of Abandonment within local communities. This collective approach shifts the “social contract,” ensuring that no single family feels isolated in their choice to stop the practice. Many regions have successfully implemented Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP), which preserve the cultural celebration of womanhood through education, mentorship, and gifts minus the physical harm. This allows communities to maintain their rich heritage while evolving their health standards. Simultaneously, health systems are closing the gap on “medicalization” the dangerous trend of health professionals performing the cut. The World Health Organization has recently tightened codes of conduct, training midwives and doctors to serve as the first line of defense, educating parents on the $1.4 billion annual global cost of treating FGM-related complications, ranging from obstetric hemorrhage to lifelong psychological trauma [2].

To ensure these gains are permanent, a robust network of local surveillance and cross-border cooperation has emerged. In 2026, over 3,200 communities have established “watchdog” groups that monitor girls during school holidays, a peak time for the practice [3]. These grassroots efforts, supported by national laws that criminalize “vacation cutting,” create a safety net that follows a girl from her village to the city and beyond. The data proves that this holistic approach works; for every dollar invested in these prevention measures, there is a tenfold return in health savings and economic productivity [2]. By weaving together, the strength of the family unit with the collective will of the community, we are finally moving toward a world where every girl can grow up whole, healthy, and empowered.

Call to Action

The end of FGM is within our reach, but it requires your voice and your action. You can make a difference today:

  • Educate and Advocate: Share the facts about the health risks of FGM within your social circles. Silence is where the practice thrives.
  • Support Grassroots Organizations: Donate to or volunteer with local NGOs that facilitate Alternative Rites of Passage and provide education to at-risk families.
  • Report Risk: If you know a girl is at risk of being subjected to FGM, contact local child protection services or international helplines immediately.
  • Engage Men and Boys: Start conversations with the men in your community about the importance of protecting the rights and health of women and girls.

Monday Health Burst is an initiative of CFHI to address issues of basic health concern. Join us every Monday on all our social media platforms for more episodes.

References

  • UNICEF Data (2025/2026): FGM Prevalence and Statistics
  • WHO Global Health Update: The Cost of FGM and Prevention Strategies
  • UNFPA 2025 Annual Report: Eliminating FGM through Community Action
  • United Nations: International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM

 

The Role of Families and Communities in Preventing FGM Read More »

Creating a Safe Environment for Girls in Schools and Communities.

Leave a Comment / Child Trafficking, ChildNotBride, Community Development, Cultural practices in Africa, End FGM, Female Genital Mutilation, Female Roles in Nation Building, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Girl Education, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, Mental Health, Postpartum Depression, Reproductive Health, Speak Wednesday, WHO, Women, Women Education, Women in Leadership, Women's Rights /

Creating a safe environment for girls in schools and communities is not a luxury; it is a necessity for national growth, justice, and human dignity. When a girl walks into a classroom, she should be thinking about her lessons and dreams not about fear. Yet for millions of girls around the world, safety is not guaranteed. According to the Malala Fund State of Girls’ Education Report, more than 120 million girls globally are out of school, with insecurity, poverty, and gender discrimination among the leading causes (Malala Fund, 2023). Behind these numbers are real girls whose futures are delayed or permanently disrupted.

Nigeria reflects this global crisis in painful ways. Data from UNICEF shows that Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children in the world estimated at over 18 million with girls disproportionately affected in conflict-affected regions (UNICEF Nigeria, 2023). The abduction of schoolgirls from Chibok in 2014 drew global outrage, yet attacks on schools have continued in parts of Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, and Sokoto States. Recent education security reporting highlights ongoing threats and forced withdrawals of girls from school due to fear of violence. (See UNICEF Press Release on education safety.)

Violence is not only external. Research by Plan International shows that many girls experience harassment, bullying, or sexual violence within school environments, often from peers or authority figures. Such incidents frequently go unreported due to stigma and weak reporting mechanisms (Plan International, 2022). When girls feel unsafe in school, attendance drops and dropout rates increase. According to UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report, school-related gender-based violence significantly affects learning outcomes and contributes to early school leaving (UNESCO, 2023).

Infrastructure gaps also contribute to insecurity. Thousands of schools in Nigeria lack perimeter fencing, security personnel, and adequate lighting, making them vulnerable to intrusion, theft, and attacks (Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Report, 2024). Beyond physical security, access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities is essential. The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme reports that inadequate sanitation disproportionately affects adolescent girls, especially during menstruation, leading to absenteeism and reduced participation (WHO/UNICEF JMP Report, 2023).

Community norms further shape girls’ vulnerability. According to UN Women, harmful gender norms, early marriage, and tolerance of violence increase girls’ risk of dropping out and experiencing abuse. In areas with high gender inequality, girls face restricted mobility and limited decision-making power, undermining their educational continuity and safety (UN Women, 2023).

Creating safer environments therefore requires coordinated action. Governments must strengthen school security architecture, implement early warning systems, and enforce child protection policies. Schools should adopt safeguarding frameworks and confidential reporting systems. Communities must challenge harmful norms and actively support girls’ education. Civil society organizations should be supported to expand advocacy, mentorship, and survivor support services.

Ensuring safety for girls is not simply about protection it is about possibility. When girls learn in secure environments, they are more likely to complete their education, participate in the workforce, delay early marriage, and contribute to economic growth. Safety forms the bedrock of confidence and achievement. If development is truly our goal, then protecting girls in schools and communities must be our shared responsibility.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-base violence and gender-bias.

References

Creating a Safe Environment for Girls in Schools and Communities. Read More »

Families as Frontline Defenders Against Harmful Practices.

Leave a Comment / Community Development, Cultural practices in Africa, Female Genital Mutilation, Female Roles in Nation Building, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Girl Education, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, Mental Health, Monday Health Burst, Reproductive Health, Women Education, Women in Leadership, Women's Rights /

Across the world, harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage continue to violate the rights, health, and futures of millions of girls and young women, often entrenched in patriarchal norms and social pressures. UNICEF estimates that at least 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM, and over 12 million girls are married before age 18 every year, both of which are rooted in gender inequality and harmful social norms upheld at the family and community level. These practices not only harm physical and psychological wellbeing but also constrain girls’ access to education, livelihoods, and basic human rights. (UNICEF)

Families are not merely passive bystanders in this landscape they can be frontline defenders against harmful practices. Research shows that families influence health behavior, decision-making, and wellbeing from early life through adolescence and adulthood, making them invaluable actors in preventing and countering abuse and discrimination. Family-oriented health promotion strategies have been found to be effective in reducing child maltreatment and strengthening protective factors by enhancing parenting practices, social support, and overall family wellbeing. (PubMed)

In many communities where harmful practices like FGM and child marriage persist, decision making often occurs within the household, with parents, extended family members, and elders shaping whether girls are subjected to such rites. In parts of sub-Saharan Africa, families fear social ostracism and harm to a girl’s “marriage prospects” if she is not cut or married early beliefs that are enforced by elders and community expectations. This social pressure persists even where awareness of harm is increasing, illustrating how deeply family influence and social norms are intertwined. (acrl-rfp.org) In Mali, for example, prevalence rates of FGM remain high only dropping from 91% to 89% over two decades underscoring that legal change alone is insufficient without deep shifts in family and community norms. (ODI: Think change)

However, when families act as agents of change rather than enforcers of harmful norms, progress is possible. In Sudan in 2025, community committees that included family members mobilized against an FGM practitioner’s arrival, stopping the practice in its tracks, and demonstrating the power of collective family and community action to protect children. This local action, grounded in awareness about health risks and legal protections, helped shift attitudes and strengthen community resistance against harmful practices. (UNICEF)

Education is another critical lever. Families that value girls’ schooling and future potential are more likely to delay or abandon harmful practices, recognizing the long-term benefits of learning and opportunity. Research from UNICEF indicates that education can shift attitudes and reduce the transmission of harmful practices across generations, as families who understand the risks and benefits are better positioned to protect their daughters. (UNICEF DATA)

Promoting family engagement as a public health strategy also aligns with broader efforts to prevent violence and abuse. Evidence shows that family-based interventions reduce harmful behaviors such as bullying among children and adolescents by improving parenting, communication, and protective supervision. These family systems create environments where children feel supported, informed, and safer, reducing the likelihood of various forms of harm. (SpringerLink)

Yet meaningful change requires more than individual awareness it requires collective, sustained action that equips families with knowledge, resources, and support to challenge harmful norms. Governments, civil society, health systems, and community leaders must invest in education, legal protections, economic opportunities, and culturally appropriate outreach that reinforces families as protectors rather than perpetuators of harmful practices. As one advocate puts it, “Families who understand the suffering these practices cause is increasingly willing to resist, one conversation at a time.” (UNICEF)

Call to Action: Ending harmful practices such as FGM and child marriage depends on empowering families with evidence, support, and tools to reject harmful norms and champion girls’ rights. Invest in family-focused education and prevention, strengthen community support networks, involve elders and parents in advocacy, and ensure every girl’s health, education, and dignity are protected.

References

Families as Frontline Defenders Against Harmful Practices. Read More »

Health Is More Than Treating Illness

2 Comments / Community Development, Gender, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, Hygiene, Mental Health, Monday Health Burst, WHO /

Health is often misunderstood as the absence of illness, yet evidence shows that health is far more than treating disease after it occurs. The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (1). This means that healthcare systems and communities must move beyond reactive treatment and prioritize prevention, education, and supportive environments that enable people to live healthy lives long before they become patients.

Globally, nearly 60% of deaths are linked to preventable causes, including infections, maternal complications, malnutrition, and non-communicable diseases that could be reduced through early awareness, healthy behaviors, and timely care (1). Treating illness alone addresses only the final stage of a much longer health journey. When communities lack access to accurate information, clean water, nutrition, and preventive services, diseases spread faster and outcomes worsen, even when treatment is available.

In Nigeria, the limits of treatment-focused health systems are clearly visible. The country bears a disproportionate burden of preventable conditions, accounting for about 20% of global maternal deaths, many of which are linked to delays in care-seeking, poor nutrition, and lack of antenatal education rather than lack of hospitals alone (2). Similarly, malaria remains endemic, with over 1.9 million reported cases annually, despite the disease being largely preventable through awareness, environmental control, and early testing (3). These figures demonstrate that treatment without prevention is insufficient.

Recent public health emergencies further reinforce this reality. Between 2023 and 2024, Nigeria recorded over 19,000 suspected cholera cases, driven by unsafe water, poor sanitation, and limited hygiene awareness (4). Cholera is not primarily a failure of medicine but a failure of systems that support healthy living. Likewise, outbreaks of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases continue to occur, largely due to misinformation and low community awareness rather than lack of vaccines (5).

Health also includes mental and social well-being, areas often overlooked in treatment-centered approaches. Studies show that people living in environments marked by poverty, stress, gender inequality, or violence experience poorer health outcomes even when medical care is available (6). Women and girls exposed to harmful practices or denied health information often suffer long-term physical and psychological consequences that treatment alone cannot undo.

Research consistently shows that preventive and promotive health interventions can reduce disease burden by up to 40%, improve service uptake, and lower healthcare costs (1). Community education, early screening, nutrition support, immunization, clean water access, and supportive social structures are as essential to health as hospitals and medicines. Healthy communities are built through informed choices, safe environments, and systems that support well-being at every stage of life.

Call to Action: If health is truly more than treating illness, then governments, health institutions, civil society organizations, and communities must invest in prevention, awareness, and social support systems. Strengthening health education, promoting early screening, improving water and sanitation, addressing gender and social inequalities, and empowering communities with knowledge are critical steps toward sustainable health outcomes. Treating illness saves lives but preventing illness and promoting well-being transforms societies.

References

  1. World Health Organization – Constitution & Health Promotion
    https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitution
    https://www.who.int/teams/health-promotion
  2. WHO Nigeria – Maternal Health Facts
    https://www.who.int/nigeria/health-topics/maternal-health
  3. World Health Organization – Malaria Factsheet
    https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria
  4. Nigeria Centre for Disease Control – Cholera Updates
    https://ncdc.gov.ng/diseases/cholera
  5. UNICEF Nigeria – Immunization and Disease Prevention
    https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/health
  6. World Health Organization – Social Determinants of Health
    https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health
  7. PAHO Calls for Increased Surveillance Amid Rising Measles Cases https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/paho-calls-increased-surveillance-amid-rising-measles-cases-americas-2026-02-04/ (turn0news26)

Health Is More Than Treating Illness Read More »

Female Genital Mutilation as Gender-Based Violence: A Violation of Girls’ Rights

End FGM, Female Genital Mutilation, Female Roles in Nation Building, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, International Day of Rural Women, Menstrual Health and Hygiene, Mental Health, Reproductive Health, Special Events, Stop FGM, WHO, Women, Women Education, Women's Rights /

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a harmful traditional practice and a clear form of gender-based violence that fundamentally violates the human rights of girls and women. The World Health Organization defines FGM as all procedures involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to female genital organs for non-medical reasons (1). The practice has no health benefits and causes lifelong harm, violating girls’ rights to health, bodily integrity, security, and freedom from cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment (1).

Globally, more than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM, spanning at least 30 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia (1). Each year, an estimated 4 million additional girls remain at risk, most of them under the age of 15, highlighting the urgent need for accelerated action (1). These figures reflect not isolated incidents, but a sustained pattern of violence rooted in gender inequality.

FGM persists primarily because of unequal power relations and entrenched social norms that subordinate girls and women. In many communities, the practice is falsely justified as a cultural rite of passage, a prerequisite for marriage, or a means of controlling female sexuality. These beliefs reinforce the notion that girls’ bodies are subject to communal control rather than individual rights, a hallmark of gender-based violence (2).

FGM remains most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, with some of the highest rates recorded in Somalia (approximately 99%), Guinea (94.5%), and Djibouti (93%) among women aged 15–49 (3). In Nigeria, an estimated 19.9 million girls and women have undergone FGM, making it one of the countries with the highest absolute number of survivors globally (4). Prevalence varies significantly across regions, with higher rates reported in the South-East and South-West, including states such as Imo, where prevalence exceeds 60% in some communities (4). These statistics underscore how deeply embedded the practice remains at both national and sub-national levels.

As a form of violence, FGM is typically carried out without informed consent, often during childhood, and results in enduring physical, psychological, and social harm. Survivors frequently report anxiety, emotional distress, reduced self-esteem, and loss of bodily autonomy, which can persist throughout adulthood (5). The trauma associated with the experience often affects girls’ confidence, participation in education, and ability to form healthy relationships later in life.

Beyond psychological harm, FGM has serious implications for sexual and reproductive health. It increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, contributes to maternal and neonatal morbidity, and places additional strain on already fragile health systems in low-resource settings (1). These consequences further affirm why FGM is recognized globally as both a public health crisis and a human rights violation.

Recognizing its severity, the international community has committed to eliminating FGM under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 5.3, with a global target year of 2030 (5). Agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have led coordinated efforts focusing on legal reform, community engagement, survivor-centred health services, and prevention strategies that challenge harmful gender norms (6).

At the national level, progress has been uneven. In countries like Somalia, WHO and partners have supported health system reforms, professional training, and community-based interventions to address both FGM and broader gender-based violence (7). In Nigeria, UNICEF has supported community-led abandonment initiatives in high-prevalence states, mobilizing local leaders, families, and youth to protect girls at risk and shift social norms (4).

The impact of FGM on confidence and well-being cannot be overstated. Many survivors live with lasting psychological effects, including post-traumatic stress, fear, and diminished self-worth, which influence education, employment, and social participation (5). These invisible scars are often overlooked, yet they shape the life chances of millions of women and girls.

Ending FGM requires decisive, multi-level action. Governments must strengthen and enforce laws that criminalize the practice. Communities must be supported to challenge harmful norms through dialogue and education. Health systems must provide survivor-centred care, including mental health services. Men and boys must be engaged as allies in promoting gender equality, while robust data systems are needed to monitor progress and guide policy decisions. Only through sustained, coordinated action can FGM be eliminated, and girls’ rights fully protected.

FGM is not culture it is violence. Ending it is not optional; it is an urgent moral, public health, and human rights imperative.

References

  1. World Health Organization (WHO). Female Genital Mutilation.
    https://www.who.int/health-topics/female-genital-mutilation
  2. WHO Regional Office for Africa. Female Genital Mutilation.
    https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/female-genital-mutilation
  3. UNICEF. New Statistical Report on Female Genital Mutilation.
    https://www.unicef.org/png/press-releases/new-statistical-report-female-genital-mutilation-shows-harmful-practice-global
  4. UNICEF Nigeria. FGM on the Rise Among Young Nigerian Girls.
    https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/press-releases/unicef-warns-fgm-rise-among-young-nigerian-girls
  5. UNICEF DATA. Female Genital Mutilation Statistics.
    https://data.unicef.org/topic/gender/fgm/
  6. World Health Organization. New Recommendations to End Medicalized FGM.
    https://www.who.int/news/item/28-04-2025-who-issues-new-recommendations-to-end-the-rise-in–medicalized–female-genital-mutilation-and-support-survivors
  7. World Health Organization. Addressing FGM and GBV in Somalia.
    https://www.who.int/about/accountability/results/who-results-report-2020-mtr/country-story/2023/improving-maternal-health-outcomes-by-addressing-female-genital-mutilation-and-gender-based-violence-in-somalia

 

Female Genital Mutilation as Gender-Based Violence: A Violation of Girls’ Rights Read More »

When Healthcare Costs Become a Form of Bias

16DaysOfActivism, Child Labour, Cultural practices in Africa, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Girl Education, Health, Health Communication, International Day of Rural Women, Mental Health, Speak Wednesday, WHO, Women, Women Education, Women's Rights /

When healthcare costs rise beyond the reach of ordinary people, they silently become a form of bias one that decides who lives, who suffers, and who is forced to endure preventable pain. In Nigeria today, access to quality healthcare is increasingly determined not by need, but by ability to pay. For millions of women and girls, especially in low-income and underserved communities, the cost of care has become a cruel barrier that denies them their most basic right: the right to health. This hidden injustice affects lives, futures, and communities.

The impact of this bias is devastating. Pregnant women delay antenatal care because consultation fees are unaffordable, adolescent girls are denied reproductive health services, and survivors of gender-based violence cannot access timely medical attention due to cost. These barriers fuel inequality, worsen health outcomes, and perpetuate cycles of suffering. When healthcare becomes a privilege instead of a right, women and girls bear the heaviest burden, trapped in a system that marginalizes them and ignores their dignity.

The financial strain of out-of-pocket spending is crushing. Families are forced to choose between food, education, and medical care, often at the expense of women and girls. This reality exposes a health system that has failed to protect those most vulnerable, leaving them at risk of illness, neglect, and further gender-based harm. A functional, responsive healthcare system should uplift women and girls, not push them into vulnerability. Every woman and girl deserve care, respect, and protection regardless of income.

The Nigerian government must act decisively. Investing in maternal, reproductive, and gender-sensitive health services, strengthening primary healthcare, implementing effective insurance schemes, and ensuring accountability at every level are not optional, they are urgent obligations. Health must be treated as a national priority, because no society can prosper while its women and girls remain unwell, unprotected, and underserved. A fair and just society is one where access to healthcare is based on need, not income. Ending cost-driven bias in healthcare requires collective action from policymakers prioritizing women’s health financing, to institutions delivering quality care, to communities demanding equitable systems.

The call to action is clear: the government, stakeholders, and citizens must commit to ensuring healthcare is affordable, accessible, and equitable for all. Healthcare should heal, protect, and empower women and girls, and not discriminate against them. Until costs no longer determine who can access care, gender-based bias will continue to persist quietly, unfairly, and at an unacceptable human cost.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-base violence and gender-bias.

When Healthcare Costs Become a Form of Bias Read More »

Ensuring Health Services Reach Everyone

16DaysOfActivism, Community Development, Cultural practices in Africa, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Girl Education, Global warming, Health Communication, Healthy Dieting, Mental Health, Monday Health Burst, WHO /

 

Ensuring that health services reach everyone remains one of the world’s most urgent development challenges, especially as global progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) continues to slow. Worldwide, more than 4.6 billion people still lack access to essential health services, leaving millions at risk of preventable illness and financial hardship [1]. Although the global service coverage index has risen from the mid-50s in 2000 to around 71 in 2023, the gains remain uneven and fragile [2]. In Nigeria, persistent gaps in primary healthcare, maternal and newborn services, limited staffing, shortages of essential supplies and unreliable electricity continue to restrict access for many communities, particularly in rural and underserved areas [3,4].

Electricity is one of the most basic requirements for safe and functional health care. In many low-resource settings, including parts of Nigeria, frequent power interruptions limit the ability of facilities to conduct safe night-time deliveries, sterilize equipment, store vaccines, or run lifesaving laboratory tests. Evidence shows that roughly one-third to two-fifths of Nigeria’s primary health care centres still lack stable electricity, forcing some to rely on kerosene lamps, phone flashlights or fuel-powered generators that often fail when needed most [5,6]. Without reliable light and power, both mothers and newborns face heightened risks, and health workers struggle to provide the standard of care for which they are trained.

These structural challenges contribute to persistent health inequalities. Nigeria retains one of the highest maternal mortality ratios globally, despite substantial global declines since the early 2000s [2,7]. Skilled birth attendance an essential determinant of maternal and newborn survival has improved in some regions but still varies widely across northern states, where many young women remain unable to access skilled care at birth [4]. Preventive services such as immunisation have also fluctuated, with pandemic-related disruptions causing setbacks. Although recovery efforts are ongoing, routine immunisation coverage remains below global and regional benchmarks, leaving children in remote communities at disproportionate risk [3,8].

Nonetheless, evidence from recent interventions demonstrates that targeted, practical investments can quickly strengthen essential health services. Solar electrification of primary health care facilities, particularly through durable systems designed for maternal and emergency care, has been shown to improve night-time service delivery, stabilize cold-chain systems and increase overall service availability [6,9]. When paired with training and continuous supervision, such interventions support proper equipment use, routine maintenance and long-term sustainability an approach consistently endorsed by global health experts and backed by facility-level assessments [7]. Furthermore, integrating community engagement, leadership participation and strong referral mechanisms encourages service uptake and strengthens public trust.

To accelerate progress, policymakers, donors, and community leaders must prioritize primary healthcare revitalization, commit to electrifying facilities, invest in continuous staff training, and support service delivery models proven to work. Ensuring that health services reach everyone is both achievable and urgent. With collective action, equitable investment and strengthened partnerships, Nigeria can move closer to a future where every individual regardless of geography or socioeconomic status receives the essential care needed to live a healthy and dignified life.

 

References

  1. World Health Organization. Universal health coverage (UHC) fact sheet. 2024 [cited 2025 Dec 12]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/universal-health-coverage-%28uhc%29
  2. World Bank. Tracking Universal Health Coverage — 2025 Global Monitoring Report. 2025 [cited 2025 Dec 12]. Available from: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/universalhealthcoverage/publication/2025-global-monitoring-report-gmr
  3. WHO. Nigeria Country Health Profile — Health System Performance, Immunisation & Primary Care Indicators. 2024 [cited 2025 Dec 12]. Available from: https://www.who.int/countries/nga
  4. Afape AO, et al. Prevalence and determinants of skilled birth attendance among young women in Northern Nigeria. 2024 [cited 2025 Dec 12]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11389318/
  5. World Health Organization. Electricity in health-care facilities. 2023 [cited 2025 Dec 12]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/electricity-in-health-care-facilities
  6. Sustainable Energy for All. Powering primary healthcare in Nigeria. 2024 [cited 2025 Dec 12]. Available from: https://www.seforall.org
  7. World Bank. Maternal mortality ratio — Nigeria. 2024 [cited 2025 Dec 12]. Available from: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.STA.MMRT?locations=NG
  8. UNICEF. Immunisation data and analysis. 2024 [cited 2025 Dec 12]. Available from: https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-health/immunization/
  9. Nigeria Health Watch. Solar power solutions for primary healthcare centres. 2024 [cited 2025 Dec 12]. Available from: https://articles.nigeriahealthwatch.com/a-solar-power-project-is-keeping-primary-healthcare-centres-running-in-abuja/

 

Ensuring Health Services Reach Everyone Read More »

UHC Day 2025: Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it!

16DaysOfActivism, Breast Care, Cancer, Climate change, Community Development, Drugs, Events, Gender, Gender Equality, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, Healthy Dieting, Hygiene, Men, Men's Health, Mental Health, WHO, Women, Women Education, Women's Rights /

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day is a global reminder that access to quality health care is a fundamental right, not a privilege reserved for the wealthy. This year’s theme, “Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it!”, speaks directly to one of the biggest barriers facing millions of Nigerians: skyrocketing healthcare costs and the widening gap between health needs and the ability to pay.

While achieving UHC requires multisectoral commitment, one of the most critical systems needed to bridge this gap is health insurance, an essential mechanism designed to protect individuals from financial hardship, ensure continuity of care, and promote equitable access to essential services. Yet, despite the existence of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and state-level schemes, enrolment remains abysmally low. Out-of-pocket payments still account for over 76% of total health spending in Nigeria, pushing millions deeper into poverty every year.

Health insurance providers cannot succeed alone; they face chronic underfunding, limited subsidies, weak enforcement, and low public awareness. Sustainable progress requires stronger government leadership, increased premium subsidies for the poor, upgraded health facilities, and digital systems that make enrolment seamless.

Yet progress is possible, and CFHI is proving it every day.

Through relentless community mobilization and strategic partnerships with philanthropists like Satoshi Koiso and development partners such as the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), CFHI has successfully enrolled 224 vulnerable individuals into NHIA-supported health coverage this year alone.

These are not just numbers.

They are mothers who no longer skip medication.

They are children who can see a doctor without their parents selling assets.

They are families now protected from choosing between medicine and food.

Health insurance must be affordable, accessible, and functional for every Nigerian. It is not just a policy tool; it is a lifeline that protects households from falling into poverty and guarantees timely care, especially for vulnerable groups.

On UHC Day 2025, our message is unequivocal:

No Nigerian should be denied quality care because they cannot afford it.

We call on federal and state governments to:

  • Fully subsidize premiums for low-income and vulnerable households
  • Strengthen primary health care facilities that deliver insured services
  • Enforce mandatory coverage and streamline digital enrolment

It is time to end the era of unaffordable health costs.

Health care is a right for every Nigerian, irrespective of socio-economic status.

Together, we can make “We’re sick of it” a rallying cry that finally delivers results.

UHC Day 2025: Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it! Read More »

Removing Gender Barriers in Healthcare Access

16DaysOfActivism, Anxiety Disorder, Child Labour, ChildNotBride, Community Development, Cultural practices in Africa, Drugs, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Health, Health Communication, Men, Mental Health, Speak Wednesday, Women, Women's Rights /

Removing gender barriers to healthcare is not only a matter of equity it is a moral and practical necessity if societies are to survive and thrive. Women and girls face layered obstacles to care: constrained mobility, financial dependence, harmful social norms, and health systems that are under-resourced and sometimes discriminatory. The World Health Organization highlights that gender norms and discrimination systematically limit access to services for women and girls, reducing their ability to obtain timely information, preventive care, and lifesaving treatment (1). These barriers are compounded by grim facility gaps: recent WHO/UNICEF data show billions are treated in health settings that lack basic water, sanitation, hygiene, and reliable electricity conditions that make safe maternal care and emergency treatment precarious (2). At the same time, progress toward universal health coverage (UHC) has slowed, leaving significant groups especially women in rural and low-income communities exposed to out-of-pocket costs and unmet needs (3).

The consequences are measurable and stark. Nigeria, for example, continues to bear a disproportionate share of global maternal deaths, a reality linked to regional inequalities in access, weak infrastructure, and funding shortfalls (4). Globally, analyses of health inclusivity reveal that refugees, displaced women, women with disabilities and other marginalized groups are far more likely to be denied or excluded from care in some cases by more than twenty percentage points compared with non-marginalized groups (5). These are not abstract injustices: they translate into delayed antenatal visits, unattended deliveries, untreated complications, and endless cycles of preventable suffering. Removing gender barriers means addressing the social drivers that prevent women from seeking care as urgently as fixing the physical gaps in facilities.

Civil society organisations and local actors are essential partners in closing these gaps. The Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) works at the community level to confront both practical and cultural barriers to care: we run health education and rights-awareness campaigns that equip women and families with knowledge about available services and how to claim them; we strengthen linkages between households and primary health centres through referrals and case management; we support WASH and menstrual hygiene programmes so women can access services with dignity; and we provide capacity building for community health workers and facility staff so that care is both accessible and respectful (6). Where infrastructure is missing, CFHI has partnered with donors and initiatives to deliver pragmatic solutions for example installing solar birth kits in underserved PHCs to ensure safe night-time deliveries while simultaneously training Healthcare Professionals and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) to enhance their competencies in clinical care, documentation, counselling, and emergency response, ensuring that PHCs can deliver reliable and respectful services across all essential health areas

To remove gender barriers at scale, governments, donors, and health systems must act on several fronts. First, finance primary health care adequately and ensure that essential services are free or financially protected at the point of use, so women are not forced to choose between care and survival. Second, invest in facility infrastructure WASH, electricity, cold chain and privacy provisions because dignity and safety are prerequisites for access. Third, embed gender-responsive policies across health programming: mandate respectful maternity care, train providers on implicit bias and discrimination, involve women and adolescent girls in service design, and expand targeted outreach for marginalized groups. Fourth, strengthen data systems to capture gender-disaggregated indicators and unmet needs so resource allocation can follow the evidence. Finally, create accountability mechanisms community scorecards, patient charters and independent oversight so promises become measurable action.

Change requires more than policy papers; it requires citizens, health workers, NGOs and governments to demand it and to act. We call on policymakers to prioritise gender responsive UHC financing and facility upgrades, on donors to fund long-term health system strengthening rather than short-term projects, on facility managers to adopt respectful care protocols today, and on community leaders to champion women’s right to health. If we truly value half our population, we will remove the gender barriers that deny women the healthcare they are owed.

References

  1. World Health Organization. Gender and health. Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/gender.
  2. World Health Organization; UNICEF. Countries making unprecedented efforts but billions still lack basic services in health-care facilities — WHO-UNICEF report warns. WHO website. 24 Sep 2025. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/24-09-2025-countries-making-unprecedented-efforts-but-billions-still-lack-basic-services-in-health-care-facilities—who-unicef-new-report-warns.
  3. World Health Organization. Universal health coverage (UHC) fact sheet. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/universal-health-coverage-(uhc).
  4. The Guardian. ‘Difficult choices’: aid cuts threaten effort to reduce maternal deaths in Nigeria. 21 May 2025. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/aid-cuts-threaten-effort-reduce-maternal-deaths-nigeria.
  5. Economist Impact. Understanding health inclusivity for women. Available from: https://impact.economist.com/projects/health-inclusivity-index/inclusivity-topics/articles/understanding-health-inclusivity-for-women.
  6. Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI). Who we are / What we do. Available from: https://www.cfhinitiative.org.

 

Removing Gender Barriers in Healthcare Access Read More »

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4