By Oluwafunke Ishola
The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) has urged multi-stakeholder collaboration to develop sustainable solutions bridging policy and practice gaps, ensuring improved access and quality healthcare for women and children across Nigeria.
Dr Funmi Ige, President of MWAN Lagos State Branch, made the call during a press conference on Monday in Lagos, emphasising the need for coordinated efforts among professionals, government, and communities.
Ige explained that effective healthcare delivery goes beyond clinical practice, requiring appropriate policies, political will, and active participation of medical professionals in shaping decisions that directly impact millions of women and children.
To advance this agenda, Ige disclosed that MWAN will hold its 24th Biennial Conference, focusing on strengthening healthcare systems, fostering inclusivity, and ensuring no woman or child is left behind in Nigeria.
“The conference, scheduled for Nov. 12–13, is themed, “Road Map to Strengthening Healthcare Services for Women and Children: Policies, Politics, and Participation,” aiming to provide actionable solutions for lasting impact.
“We believe that caring for women and children strengthens families and, by extension, contributes directly to national development,” Ige said, highlighting the broader societal benefits of improved maternal and child healthcare.
According to her, the conference will gather experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to share experiences, exchange ideas, and develop practical insights guiding future healthcare strategies in Lagos State and beyond.
Ige urged the government to implement policies that improved access to affordable, quality healthcare, particularly in rural communities, ensuring universal health coverage reached vulnerable women and children across Nigeria.
“These women and children in remote areas are often economically disadvantaged.
“Policies must reflect compassion, ensuring healthcare is not only accessible but also affordable for the most vulnerable populations in society,” she stressed.
She further highlighted the need to strengthen social health insurance, especially Lagos State Health Insurance, ensuring the programmes functioned effectively in practice, not just in policy documents or rhetoric.
Maternal and neonatal mortality remain key concerns for MWAN, with Ige noting that current national figures are alarming and demand urgent intervention to reduce preventable deaths during childbirth.
“No woman should die during childbirth, and reducing maternal mortality from postpartum hemorrhage remains a key focus of this biennial conference,” Ige emphasised, noting ongoing initiatives addressing critical maternal health challenges.
She called for stronger collaboration among government, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders, stressing that shared responsibility was essential for improving development and outcomes within the health sector nationwide.
Ige highlighted financial investment as a critical factor, urging the government to increase health sector budgetary allocation to align with the 15 per cent Abuja Declaration, strengthening infrastructure, personnel, and service delivery.
Highlighting MWAN’s achievements over the past two years, she said the association enhanced visibility, promoted wellness, and implemented impactful community projects, including preventive healthcare outreach and member-focused initiatives.
“We have conducted cervical and breast cancer screenings, medical and surgical outreaches, and deepened partnerships with government and civil society to advance health education and preventive healthcare initiatives for women and children,” Ige added.
She said the conference would also serve as a platform to celebrate collective achievements while ushering in a new administration committed to building on MWAN’s foundations and continuing transformative healthcare initiatives.
Ige commended the media for supporting MWAN’s efforts, amplifying critical healthcare issues affecting women, children, adolescents, and preventive health, and fostering public awareness around life-saving interventions and programmes.
“Together, through collaboration and sustained commitment, we can strengthen the healthcare system, ensuring a healthier, more equitable future for women, children, and the communities that rely on these essential services,” she said.
Similarly, Dr Ibironke Sodeinde, Immediate Past President, MWAN Lagos, urged leaders to adopt a growth mindset, learn from international experiences, and implement knowledge-driven strategies to advance healthcare delivery.
Sodeinde emphasised the importance of knowledge sharing, continuity, and collaborative governance as essential components of sustainable health system development, ensuring lessons from past successes and challenges inform future programmes.
Dr Atinuke Ajoloko, Secretary of MWAN Lagos, warned that women and children had shifted from being vulnerable populations to “endangered species” due to rising maternal and infant mortality rates demanding urgent attention.
Ajoloko lamented that health professionals witnessed daily preventable deaths among women and children, calling for immediate interventions and cross-sector collaboration to reverse trends, save lives, and secured equitable healthcare access nationwide. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
