Niger State calls for more data on women’s health issues
The Niger State Government has raised concerns over the lack of sufficient data for research into health conditions affecting women. Murtala Bagana, the state’s Commissioner for Health, highlighted the need for increased resources and funding to build a comprehensive database. He emphasized that better data would help address long-standing health challenges faced by women. Stakeholders, including Youterus Health and White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria, are advocating for more evidence-based research and policy action.
What we know
- Murtala Bagana criticized the inadequate attention given to women’s health by policymakers and government institutions.
- The state plans to advocate for the adoption of research findings at the National Council on Health meeting scheduled for November 2026.
- Dr Fatou Wurie of Youterus Health and Chief Tonte Ibraye of White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria noted that secrecy surrounds African women’s health due to lack of data.
- Research shows that 57.4 per cent of Nigerian adolescent girls experience heavy menstrual bleeding, with an average delay of over 20 years before seeking medical care.
- The absence of national screening programmes and dedicated research funding has left women’s health under-prioritised and under-researched in Nigeria.
