UN Women, FG Seek Collective Action

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the Federal Government have referred to as for stronger collaboration, elevated funding and progressive approaches to handle Nigeria’s maternal mortality disaster and enhance entry to sexual and reproductive well being providers.

The name was made on Wednesday on the Second Annual National Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Conference 2026, organised by the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Networks in Abuja.

Speaking on the occasion, the UN Women Representative to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States.(ECOWAS), Beatrice Eyong, stated maternal mortality remained a serious public well being problem, with practically 1,000 ladies dying for each 100,000 reside births in Nigeria.

She stated, “Too many women continue to lose their lives from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.”

She additionally expressed concern that fewer than half of births in Nigeria happen in well being services, noting that entry to expert and high quality maternal care remained uneven throughout communities, saying adolescent ladies additionally face important boundaries, together with little one marriage, early and unintended pregnancies, gender-based violence,  and dangerous social norms that limit their selections.

Eyong stated sexual and reproductive well being and rights had been central to gender equality, human rights, social justice and sustainable growth, including that they influenced academic attainment, financial participation, resilience and the flexibility of communities to thrive.

“When women and girls flourish, societies prosper. When a woman survives pregnancy and childbirth, families are strengthened. When adolescent girls remain in school and can make informed choices about their futures, communities become more resilient,” she stated.

She referred to as for stronger implementation of current nationwide insurance policies and authorized frameworks, together with the National Gender Policy, the National Policy on the Health and Development of Adolescents and Young People, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 and the National Health Act 2014.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, additionally referred to as for stronger collaboration amongst authorities establishments, growth companions, civil society organisations and communities to handle sexual and reproductive well being challenges.

He stated, “They are not issues that can be addressed by the health sector alone. They require coordinated action across government, communities, development partners, civil society and the private sector.”

He referred to as for better emphasis on respectful maternity care, safety of sufferers’ dignity and rights, and group engagement to make sure ladies and ladies participated meaningfully in selections affecting their well being and wellbeing.