The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) has called on government at all levels to increase investment in adolescent health, strengthen mentorship for young doctors, and adopt multi-sectoral strategies to tackle malnutrition and reproductive health challenges confronting women and children.
The call was contained in a communique issued at the end of MWAN’s national conference and scientific meeting held in Kaduna, which brought together over 500 participants, including policymakers, health experts, and traditional rulers.
Reading the communique, the newly inaugurated MWAN national president, Dr. Zainab Kwaru Muhammad-Idris, stressed the need for renewed campaigns on women’s right to health information, greater involvement of men in reproductive health programmes, and deliberate efforts to address barriers to vaccine uptake across the country.
According to the doctors, the time has come for health professionals to embrace new skills that go beyond clinical practice.
“Members should develop non-medical survival skills, become more IT-savvy, and embrace innovation to drive leadership in the health sector. We are in a changing world, and health workers must adapt if they are to make a difference,” he said.
The association called for a multidisciplinary response that brings together medical, legal, and social institutions to provide adequate support for survivors.
On maternal and child health, MWAN urged government ownership of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) framework, warning that sustainability cannot be achieved if authorities leave critical programmes to external partners.
The communique also stressed the urgent need for a multi-sectoral approach to address the nutritional needs of pregnant women and children, and renewed investment in adolescent health as the foundation for healthier future generations.
It noted that poor vaccine uptake remains a threat to public health and called for stronger campaigns to dispel myths and misinformation as Nigeria prepares to roll out measles, rubella, and HPV vaccines nationwide.
“We are telling our members to step into leadership roles wherever they are. Women doctors must shape policies, not just provide care,” it said.
The association further highlighted the potential of digital innovations to improve data-driven decision making, enhance outreach to underserved communities, and strengthen leadership in the health sector.
The communique was jointly signed by its chairperson, Dr. Anisah Yahya, Dr. Aminatu Makarfi Umar, secretary and members: Dr. Fatima Abdullahi, Dr. Bilquis Muhammad, Dr. Ramatu Yunusa Yusuf, Sururah Azeez, Dr. Aisha Ahmad Jamila, Dr. Ezinwa Peter, Dr. Nana Awaya Emeribe, Dr. Hafsa Maikudi, and Marufah Lasisi.