Special Events

Integrated Health and Sanitation Approaches for Tuberculosis Prevention

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Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health concern globally and in Nigeria, requiring a comprehensive and integrated approach that combines healthcare services with sanitation and environmental interventions. TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and spreads through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Globally, TB continues to be one of the leading infectious killers, with millions of new infections recorded annually. Nigeria is among the top high-burden TB countries, with an estimated incidence rate of 219 cases per 100,000 population and hundreds of thousands of infections reported yearly². Despite progress, gaps in early detection, treatment access, and environmental health conditions continue to drive transmission.

An integrated approach to TB prevention recognizes that the disease is not only a medical issue but also closely linked to living conditions, sanitation, and social determinants of health. Research shows that TB transmission is higher in overcrowded, poorly ventilated, and unsanitary environments, where airborne bacteria can easily spread⁷. In many communities, poor housing, inadequate waste management, and lack of hygiene practices contribute to increased exposure. Studies further highlight that weak implementation of infection prevention and control measures in health facilities also increases transmission risks among patients and healthcare workers⁷.

Effective TB prevention therefore requires combining health interventions with sanitation and hygiene (WASH) strategies. From a health systems perspective, early diagnosis and prompt treatment are critical. The World Health Organization emphasizes that starting TB treatment quickly after diagnosis significantly reduces transmission and improves outcomes¹. In addition, contact tracing and active case finding have proven effective. For instance, community-based screening interventions in Nigeria have shown that targeted contact investigation yields higher TB detection rates compared to general screening approaches, demonstrating the importance of integrated community health strategies¹².

Sanitation and environmental health measures also play a vital role in TB prevention. Improving ventilation in homes, schools, and health facilities reduces the concentration of infectious droplets in the air. Promoting good hygiene practices, such as covering the mouth when coughing and reducing indoor air pollution, helps limit transmission. Addressing overcrowding and ensuring access to clean and safe living environments are equally important. Furthermore, strengthening nutrition is essential, as malnutrition weakens immunity and increases susceptibility to TB infection.

Integrated interventions must also address vulnerable populations. TB is closely associated with HIV infection, poverty, and weak immune systems, making collaborative TB/HIV programs essential. In Nigeria, about 4.9% of TB patients are co-infected with HIV, highlighting the need for integrated service delivery that includes HIV testing, treatment, and TB care⁰. The global End TB Strategy also emphasizes patient-centered care, strong health systems, and community engagement as key pillars for reducing TB burden⁵.

Organizations like the Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) play a critical role in advancing integrated TB prevention efforts in Nigeria. Through community-based programs, CFHI supports TB awareness, screening, referral, and linkage to treatment services, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children, adolescents, and people living with HIV. The organization also promotes health education, hygiene practices, and community mobilization, helping to address both the medical and environmental factors driving TB transmission. CFHI’s work aligns with national and global strategies that emphasize integration of health services with social and behavioral interventions.

To strengthen TB prevention, several measures should be prioritized. First, expand community-based TB screening and early diagnosis services to detect cases early. Second, improve sanitation and housing conditions, especially in high-density communities. Third, promote WASH interventions, including hygiene education and environmental cleanliness. Fourth, strengthen infection prevention and control practices in health facilities to protect both patients and healthcare workers. Fifth, increase public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and encourage timely healthcare seeking. Finally, ensure consistent access to free TB treatment and adherence support, as treatment success rates can reach over 90% when properly followed⁰.

The fight against tuberculosis requires a multi-sectoral and integrated response that goes beyond clinical treatment. By combining health services with sanitation, environmental improvements, and community engagement, it is possible to significantly reduce TB transmission and improve health outcomes. Individuals also have a role to play by seeking early testing when symptoms appear, maintaining good hygiene practices, and supporting affected persons without stigma.

 

Tuberculosis is preventable and curable, but only when detected and treated early. Communities, health workers, organizations, and policymakers must work together to strengthen integrated health and sanitation interventions. If you experience symptoms such as a persistent cough lasting more than two weeks, fever, or weight loss, visit the nearest health facility for testing. Together, through improved hygiene, better living conditions, and timely treatment, we can reduce the burden of TB and move closer to ending the epidemic.

References

  1. World Health Organization – TB Prevention and Infection Control
    https://www.who.int/teams/global-tuberculosis-programme/tb-reports/global-tuberculosis-report-2023/tb-prevention
  2. CDC Nigeria TB Data and Statistics
    https://www.cdc.gov/global-hiv-tb/php/where-we-work/nigeria.html
  3. WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme – Nigeria Case Study
    https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/documents/tuberculosis/engage-tb-nigeria-case-study.pdf
  4. National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP)
    https://ntblcp.org.ng/
  5. WHO End TB Strategy Overview
    https://afro.who.int/health-topics/tuberculosis-tb
  6. BMC Public Health – TB Burden and Treatment Outcomes in Nigeria
    https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-09289-x
  7. BMC Infectious Diseases – TB Infection Control in Nigeria
    https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-016-1453-y
  8. TB Preventive Practices Study (Nigeria)
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10262855/
  9. TB Infection Control Study (Enugu, Nigeria)
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9120735/
  10. WHO TB Case Finding Initiatives in Nigeria
    https://www.afro.who.int/countries/nigeria/news/intensifying-new-initiatives-tb-case-finding-nigeria

 

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

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/

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Maternal Health – Access to Care

Climate change, Community Development, Cultural practices in Africa, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Girl Education, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, Hygiene, Monday Health Burst, Reproductive Health, Special Events, WHO /

Nigeria’s maternal health landscape continues to reveal stark inequalities that jeopardize the lives of women and newborns, particularly in underserved states like Adamawa and Zamfara. Despite global and national efforts to improve maternal survival, access to essential care remains limited for millions of women across the country. Research shows that utilisation of maternal healthcare services including antenatal care, skilled delivery, and postnatal care is persistently low, with only about 52% of women attending at least four antenatal visits, 38% delivering in health facilities, and about 37% receiving postnatal care. These gaps contribute directly to preventable complications and deaths during pregnancy and childbirth. ¹

According to the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), while antenatal care coverage has improved to 63%, only 46% of births are attended by skilled health personnel, leaving more than half of Nigerian mothers vulnerable during their most critical hour.² The stakes are staggering; a woman in Nigeria faces a 1 in 19 lifetime risk of dying during pregnancy or childbirth, compared to 1 in 4,900 in high-income countries.³ Despite these daunting statistics, recent government reports from the 2025 Joint Annual Review indicate a 17% reduction in maternal deaths across high-burden areas, driven largely by initiatives like the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), which facilitated over 4,000 free Cesarean sections and revitalized 435 health facilities within one year.⁴

At the heart of this changing landscape is the work of the Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) through the BIRTH Project (Building Innovative Responses to Transform Healthcare), currently being implemented in Adamawa State and Zamfara State. In these regions, where geographical, financial, and systemic barriers often stand between a mother and survival, CFHI’s interventions are providing practical and life-saving solutions to improve access to skilled maternal care.

In Adamawa State, CFHI strengthened the Rumde Primary Health Care Centre in Yola North by installing a solar-powered birth suitcase, ensuring uninterrupted delivery services even in the absence of stable electricity. The intervention has become the primary source of light during childbirth in the facility, enabling safe deliveries at all hours. Beyond the health facility, the project promotes maternal wellbeing through community-led nutrition demonstrations aimed at preventing maternal anemia, a condition responsible for a significant proportion of pregnancy-related complications worldwide³.

In Zamfara State, where facility-based delivery rates have historically been low, similar solar-powered birth kits were installed at facilities such as Shagari Primary Health Centre, improving nighttime emergency response and increasing community confidence in the health system. However, the BIRTH Project goes beyond the provision of equipment. It directly addresses the five delays identified under the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII).

The consequences of poor access are not only clinical but social and economic. Women who cannot reach care in time often resort to unskilled birth attendants or home deliveries, increasing the likelihood of complications and long-term disability. National analyses show that financial constraints, distance to facilities, and perceived poor quality of care are major determinants of home births, even among women who attend antenatal care. ⁶ Beyond these structural issues, cultural norms and limited decision-making autonomy further restrict women’s ability to seek timely and appropriate maternal healthcare.

To transform maternal health outcomes in Nigeria with Adamawa and Zamfara as case studies sustained investment is required in strengthening primary healthcare systems, expanding referral networks, improving emergency transport, and increasing the availability of skilled health workers trained in emergency obstetric and newborn care. Governments, donors, and civil society must work together to remove financial barriers, improve transportation systems, and empower women socially and economically so that no woman is forced to choose between distance and survival.

CFHI’s ongoing MNCH interventions demonstrate that progress is possible when communities are engaged, health systems are supported, and maternal care is prioritized. The task ahead is to scale these efforts with urgency, political commitment, and adequate funding to ensure that every pregnancy is safe, and every mother survives childbirth.

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

  1. National Library of Medicine (PMC). Determinants of maternal healthcare service utilization in Nigeria.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC
  2. National Population Commission (NPC) Nigeria and ICF. Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2024 (Key Indicators Report).
    https://dhsprogram.com
  3. World Health Organization (WHO). Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000–2023.
    https://www.who.int/publications
  4. Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria. 2025 Joint Annual Review Report & MAMII Initiative Update.
    https://health.gov.ng
  5. National Library of Medicine (PubMed). Barriers to facility-based delivery after antenatal care attendance in Nigeria.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

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Gender-Bias Sustains Violence Against Girls

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, Speak Wednesday, Special Events, Stop FGM, WHO, Women, Women Education, Women in Leadership /

Across the globe, gender bias fuels and sustains violence against girls, shaping social norms that devalue their rights, safety, and dignity. Gender bias refers to the systemic prejudice that privileges one gender over another, embedding harmful beliefs about power, control, and worth. These biases are not abstract they manifest in everyday interactions, institutional policies, cultural practices, and legal frameworks that indirectly condone or fail to protect girls from violence and discrimination. Gender bias is a root cause of many forms of gender-based violence, contributing to a world where nearly 1 in 3 women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most often from intimate partners or family members. This stark reality reflects deep-seated inequalities and underscores how societal norms around gender perpetuate violence rather than prevent it. (UN Women Knowledge hub)

Gender bias does not only drive overt acts of violence; it also grows through socialization and cultural messaging that position girls as subordinate or less valuable. In many communities, girls are more likely to face early marriage with 1 in 5 women aged 20–24 first married before age 18 a practice rooted in beliefs that girls need male guardianship and are better suited to domestic roles than education or economic participation. These harmful norms create environments where violence against girls is tolerated or overlooked, and where girls themselves may internalize messages that diminish their sense of self-worth and agency. (violenceagainstchildren.un.org)

The consequences of violence sustained by gender bias are severe and far-reaching. Beyond physical injuries, girls and young women who experience violence are at greater risk of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, unintended pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections. The psychological impact can hinder education, employment, and social participation, trapping survivors in cycles of marginalization. When legal systems, communities, and institutions fail to protect girls or address the bias that underpins violence, they perpetuate impunity and signal that girls’ safety is negotiable rather than a human right. (UN Women Knowledge hub)

Efforts to combat gender-based violence must therefore confront the gender bias that sustains it. This means challenging societal norms that excuse controlling behaviour, silence survivors, or blame victims for the harm inflicted upon them. It requires that governments strengthen legal protections, enforce laws that criminalize domestic and sexual violence, and ensure survivors have access to justice and support services. It also means investing in community education that promotes gender equality, respectful relationships, and non-violent conflict resolution. Addressing gender bias is central to dismantling the conditions that allow violence against girls to persist. (UN Women Knowledge hub)

True change demands collective action from families, teachers, health workers, policymakers, and young people themselves to build cultures that respect girls’ autonomy, voices, and contributions. Eliminating violence against girls is not simply a matter of responding to individual incidents; it is a long-term effort to transform the biases that place girls at risk in the first place. Communities that challenge harmful gender norms and promote equality create safer, healthier, and more just environments for all children and future generations.

Call to action: Governments, civil society, community leaders, educators, and individuals must work together to replace harmful gender stereotypes with norms that respect human rights and dignity. Strengthening legal frameworks, investing in prevention programmes, supporting survivors, and promoting gender-equal education are essential steps toward a future where girls can live free from violence and realize their full potential.

References

• UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children: Girls
https://violenceagainstchildren.un.org/content/girls (violenceagainstchildren.un.org

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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

 

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

Female Genital Mutilation, Female Roles in Nation Building, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Girl Education, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, Hygiene, Speak Wednesday, Special Events, WHO, Women, Women Education, Women in Leadership, 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.

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

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

 

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Economic Exclusion as Gender-Based Violence

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Gender-based violence (GBV) is most often associated with physical or sexual abuse. However, economic exclusion – the systematic denial of women’s access to jobs, income, assets, and economic decision-making is itself a form of violence that harms individuals, families, and societies. When women are excluded from economic opportunities, the impact goes far beyond loss of income; it restricts freedom, autonomy, safety, and long-term development (1).

At its core, GBV includes economic abuse, where financial control is used as a tool of power and coercion. Economic violence may involve denying women access to money, preventing them from working, confiscating earnings, or restricting access to education and financial resources, forcing dependency and disempowerment (1). In many contexts, economic abuse is one of the most widespread yet least recognized forms of gender-based violence.

Economic exclusion is sustained by discriminatory laws, weak institutional protections, and unequal social norms. Globally, over 2.7 billion women live in countries where laws restrict the types of jobs they can do, and at least 43 economies still lack legislation addressing workplace sexual harassment, creating unsafe and unequal labor environments (2).

Intimate partner violence which frequently includes economic abuse affects approximately one in three women worldwide, limiting their ability to earn, save, and participate fully in public and economic life (3). In South Africa, studies indicate that one in eight adult women has experienced economic abuse, including being deliberately deprived of money or access to financial resources by a partner (4).

The consequences extend beyond individuals to national economies. Gender-based violence, including its economic dimensions, has measurable effects on productivity and growth. Evidence suggests that GBV can cost countries between 1–2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to absenteeism, reduced productivity, healthcare costs, and forced withdrawal from the workforce (5).

In Nigeria, the economic cost of gender-based violence is estimated at approximately USD 3 billion annually, equivalent to about 1% of the nation’s GDP, underscoring the scale of economic loss linked to women’s exclusion and abuse (6).

Economic exclusion intersects with social norms that treat women as inferior, dependent, or secondary earners. When women lack control over income, are denied access to employment, or are discouraged from education and financial decision-making, the result is structural violence a normalized and persistent denial of rights and well-being.

This exclusion is not accidental; it is deeply rooted in patriarchal systems and discriminatory practices that limit women’s autonomy and participation. The World Bank has emphasized that violence against women undermines economic growth and damages communities and future generations by restricting women’s productive potential (7).

Experts have consistently highlighted both the human and economic costs of this form of violence. According to the World Bank:

“Violence against women and girls is a global epidemic that endangers lives and carries wide-ranging consequences for individuals, families, and communities.” (7)

Research further shows that economic abuse and exclusion lead to long-term psychological harm, loss of independence, and restricted life opportunities for women and girls. Conversely, policies that promote women’s economic empowerment are associated with reduced exposure to GBV and increased participation in education, employment, and leadership (8).

Ending economic exclusion as a form of gender-based violence requires deliberate and sustained action, including:

  • Strong legal protections guaranteeing equal work rights, pay equity, and safeguards against economic abuse.
  • Transformation of harmful social norms that portray women as dependents rather than economic actors.
  • Targeted economic empowerment initiatives that expand women’s access to education, finance, and entrepreneurship.
  • Inclusive workplace policies that ensure safety, fair remuneration, and career advancement for women

Economic exclusion is not merely an economic challenge it is a human rights violation. Recognizing it as a form of gender-based violence strengthens advocacy, accountability, and policy responses, and is essential to building societies where women can live, work, and thrive free from coercion and inequality.

References

  1. Women’s World Banking. What is economic violence against women and why does it matter? Available from:
    https://www.womensworldbanking.org/insights/what-is-economic-violence-against-women-and-why-does-it-matter/
  2. UN Women. Facts and figures: Women’s economic empowerment. Available from:
    https://knowledge.unwomen.org/en/articles/facts-and-figures/facts-and-figures-economic-empowerment
  3. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Violence against women: An overlooked economic barrier. Available from:
    https://www.apec.org/press/blogs/2025/violence-against-women–an-overlooked-economic-barrier
  4. Independent Online (IOL). Economic abuse: The most common yet overlooked form of GBV in South Africa. Available from:
    https://iol.co.za/mercury/2025-07-02-economic-abuse-the-most-common-yet-overlooked-form-of-gender-based-violence-in-south-africa/
  5. International Monetary Fund. How domestic violence is a threat to economic development. Available from:
    https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2021/11/24/how-domestic-violence-is-a-threat-to-economic-development
  6. The Whistler Newspaper. Nigeria loses estimated $3bn annually to gender-based violence. Available from:
    https://thewhistler.ng/nigeria-loses-estimated-3-0bn-annually-to-gender-based-violence/
  7. World Bank. More than 1 billion women lack legal protection against domestic and sexual violence. Available from:
    https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2018/02/01/more-than-1-billion-women-lack-legal-protection-against-domestic-sexual-violence-finds-world-bank-study
  8. MDPI. The quest for female economic empowerment in Sub-Saharan Africa and implications for GBV. Available from:
    https://www.mdpi.com/1911-8074/17/2/51

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WBW 2022

It’s World Breastfeeding Week!

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Globally, 3 in 5 babies are not breastfed in the first hour of life – WHO. Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. Breastmilk is the ideal food for infants. It is safe and contains antibodies which help protect against many common childhood illnesses.

 

#WBW2022 #WABA #worldbreastfeedweek2022 #SDGs

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WORLD MALARIA DAY 2020

COVID-19, Health, Special Events, Uncategorized, WHO /

WORLD MALARIA DAY 2020: ZERO MALARIA STARTS WITH ME:

“From 2000 to 2015, several countries made tremendous progress in the fight against malaria. Globally, malaria deaths fell by more than 50%. Seventeen countries eliminated malaria, and six were certified by the WHO as malaria-free”. This exceptional progress demonstrated that malaria elimination is achievable.

Despite the progress made in the fight against malaria, half of the world population is still at risk of this devastating disease. According to WHO’s World Malaria Report for 2019, the scourge of malaria continues to strike hardest against pregnant women and young children in Africa. Scaling up efforts to reduce cases and deaths among these two populations would provide significant boost in the fight against malaria.

With the present Covid-19 pandemic concerns taking the front line, there is need to ensure that efforts and progress gained in the fight against malaria are not lost and there is continued testing and treatment of malaria cases even within this pandemic. WHO warned on Thursday, April 23, that the number of deaths caused by malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa could double to 769,000 this year, as efforts to curb the disease are disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is essential that we keep to the guidelines of cleaning the environment and dispensing stagnant waters around homes, ensuring proper covering of openings, fumigate regularly, appropriate clothing especially for children at night and most importantly the use of insecticide treated mosquito net. In as much as we enjoin everyone to stay at home, never hesitate to seek medical help if fever occurs.

Happy World Malaria Day!

#StaySafe #WMD2020

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