Hidden Women's Health Crisis Exposed in Nigeria’s Workplaces: New Report Reveals

...As 67.2% of Nigerian women experience significant health problems in their workplaces

A recent study has exposed an unseen predicament impacting numerous employed females throughout the nation.

The report entitled "The Status of Women’s Health in Nigeria" was unveiled during the Healthtracka's Foundation for Advocacy, Innovation and Research, FAIR, Banking on Women's Health conference held in Lagos over the weekend. It revealed that 67.2 percent of Nigerian women faced significant occupational health issues, including severe menstrual cramps, difficulties related to fertility treatments, and problems associated with menopause.

The data also showed that even with these challenges, less than half of the male coworkers acknowledged the problems. Additionally, merely 18 percent of employers provide health benefits specifically for women, highlighting significant deficiencies in workplace policies and support systems.

The FAIR Executive Director, Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson, along with various specialists, highlighted the significance of implementing strategic inclusivity.

Dare-Johnson stated: "The well-being of women is not an ancillary matter; it forms the bedrock of economic progress. Acknowledging and supporting this should not be seen as a benevolent addition but rather as a crucial requirement."

Firms offering periods leave, menopause leave, reproductive health coverage, and adaptable work hours experience reduced absentee rates and improved employee loyalty.

The report similarly brought attention to disparities in health across regions, noting that "only 8 percent of deliveries take place in healthcare institutions in Kebbi State, where merely 6.75 percent of the state’s projected 2024 budget is designated for health-related expenditures."

"By contrast, Edo State records a 96 per cent rate of facility-based deliveries, even though it still falls short of the 15 per cent Abuja Declaration health budget target.

Worryingly, more than 10 percent of women in Lagos and Abuja do not have access to menstrual hygiene products each month, which impacts their presence at work and school.

Nevertheless, the report highlighted effective measures like ferric carboxymaltose for addressing maternal anemia, community-based antenatal care programs in Bauchi, and HPV self-sampling kits which increased cervical cancer screenings from 56 percent to 93 percent.

During the conference, Presidential Advisor for Women’s Health, Adanna Steinacker, unveiled two significant federal programs: the Women's Health Media Hub, an online portal providing culturally appropriate healthcare information, and the Healthy Women, Healthy Nation initiative aimed at highlighting women's health requirements across all six of the country's geopolitical regions.

Steinacker stated: "This has moved beyond charity; it's now the most intelligent investment in Nigeria’s growth. A thriving woman signifies a prosperous country."

Speaking remotely as well, Rodio Diallo, who works as the Deputy Director of Family Health at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, voiced worry about Nigeria’s high maternal mortality ratio—576 fatalities for every 100,000 live births—which leads to more than 80,000 avoidable deaths each year.

She stated, "Women serve as the foundation for families and communities; thus, their health should be considered a top national concern."

Renowned oncologist, Dr. Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, founder of Women in Healthcare Nigeria, highlighted cancer care as another urgent area.

She stated: "Many patients reach stages 3 or 4 because of inadequate knowledge and limited accessibility. Cancer isn’t a form of retribution. If detected promptly, it has the potential for cure."

One major highlight of the conference was the introduction of the Banking on Women's Health Innovation Award, which aims to bring attention to and back groundbreaking healthcare initiatives that have the potential to greatly improve women’s health across Nigeria.

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