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Women’s reproductive and health rights are critical to attaining gender equality and fostering women’s well-being. The World Health Organization and the United Nations have acknowledged the significance of defending women’s reproductive and health rights, which are inextricably tied to their social, economic, and political standing. In Nigeria, women’s reproductive and health rights are protected by both international and national laws.
Discrimination against women in health care is a violation of their human rights, according to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The treaty demands equal access to health care services, particularly reproductive health treatments, as well as the abolition of harmful cultural practices that undermine women’s health.
Nigeria is a signatory to CEDAW and established legislation to protect women’s reproductive and health rights. The 2014 National Health Act affirms the right to health care services, including reproductive health services, and requires health facilities to offer emergency obstetric care to pregnant women. The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015 criminalizes many forms of violence against women, including female genital mutilation, and ensures the protection of victims.

Additionally, by prohibiting child marriage and respecting girls’ rights over their bodies, the Child Rights Act of 2003 protects young girls’ reproductive rights.
The Child Rights Act of 2003 also protects the reproductive rights of young women by prohibiting child marriage and upholding girls’ autonomy over their bodies.

Women in Nigeria still struggle to obtain services related to reproductive health, and they frequently face violence and discrimination based on their gender, in spite of these laws and initiatives. Harmful practices like female genital mutilation and child marriage, which can have a negative impact on women’s health, are typically supported by cultural and religious beliefs.
In conclusion, establishing gender equality and advancing the welfare of women in Nigeria and around the world depend on safeguarding their legal access to contraception and other health-related services. In Nigeria, women’s reproductive and health rights are also legally protected, but more must be done to eradicate harmful traditions and ensure that every woman has access to reproductive health care.

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

#SpeakWednesday #Women’sHealth #Women’sRights #HumanRights #GenderStereotype #GenderBias #GenderInequality

Family planning is an important aspect of reproductive health that involves the use of various methods to control the number and spacing of children in a family. It empowers individuals, couples, and families to make informed decisions about their reproductive health, improve their overall well-being, and achieve their life goals.

In Nigeria, knowledge of any contraceptive method is widespread, according to the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey report. However, despite this knowledge, contraceptive prevalence is only 15%, and the actual use of contraceptives varies between states in the country and is influenced by sociodemographic factors.

Several years ago, the Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI), in partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and other relevant stakeholders, organized a comprehensive training program on Family Planning (FP) and Post-Partum Family Planning (PPFP) services in Kaduna State. The main objective of the program was to enhance community awareness of these services and establish connections between the community and health facilities. The training program targeted all categories of key influencers, and as a result, a total of 921 Traditional Birth Attendance, 513 Traditional/Religious Leaders, 285 Islamiyah School Teachers, and 594 CWO/Zumunta Mata members were successfully reached across the 10 LGAs.

There are many reasons why family planning is important, including:
Promoting maternal and child health: Family planning can help reduce the risk of maternal and infant mortality by allowing women to plan and space their pregnancies, which can improve their overall health and reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
Empowering women: Family planning gives women the ability to make informed decisions about their reproductive health, pursue education and career goals, and achieve greater economic independence and improved social status.
Reducing poverty: Family planning can help reduce poverty by allowing families to have fewer children and invest more resources in each child’s education and well-being.
Protecting the environment: Family planning can help reduce the strain on natural resources by reducing population growth and resource consumption.
Improving the overall quality of life: By allowing individuals and couples to plan and space their pregnancies, family planning can lead to improved overall quality of life for families, communities, and societies.
Access to a broad selection of family planning methods and services is crucial for individuals and couples to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and family well-being.

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.

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Period poverty, defined as a lack of access to period products, education, and facilities, is a major issue affecting millions of women globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 500 million women and girls do not have access to sufficient menstrual hygiene management sanitation services. Women’s health suffers as a result of a lack of access to menstrual products and facilities, as well as their social and economic well-being.

According to the WHO, a lack of access to menstruation products and facilities can result in bacterial infections, reproductive tract infections, and urinary tract infections. The UN has also acknowledged that poor menstrual hygiene management might result in toxic shock syndrome and cervical cancer. The use of unsanitary materials like old rags, leaves, or newspapers can increase the risk of infection and disease.
Women’s mental health is also impacted by period poverty. According to UNICEF, girls who cannot afford menstrual products typically feel humiliated, which leads to anxiety and despair. In rare situations, girls may drop out of school entirely, resulting in social isolation and marginalization, as well as decreased access to educational and career possibilities, with long-term social and economic ramifications.
Furthermore, the social stigma associated with periods can make women feel ashamed or afraid to seek help or speak out about their problems. This can lead to a lack of menstrual health knowledge and education, prolonging the cycle of period poverty.

CFHI’s innovation of reusable sanitary pads, known as Safepad, aims to create economic opportunities for women and young girls in local communities while also providing vulnerable groups with access to affordable or no-cost sanitary pads. In 2022, CFHI provided education on menstrual hygiene practices to approximately 60 students and distributed over 30 packs of free reusable sanitary pads to vulnerable girls, and this year, the organization aims to expand its impact and reach more individuals in need.

To address period poverty, it is essential to break the cycle of shame and stigma surrounding menstrual health. Providing education on period health and sanitation is a necessary step, but women also require access to affordable, reusable, and safe menstruation supplies. To address the root causes of poverty, governments and organizations must prioritize addressing issues such as gender inequality and economic marginalization. By fostering change and raising awareness, it is possible to remove period poverty as a barrier to women’s health. It is imperative that period poverty is recognized as a human rights issue, and that efforts are made to eliminate the stigma associated with it.

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

#SpeakWednesday #PeriodPovertye #Women’sHealth #Women’srights #genderequality #genderbias