To improve women’s health and economic inclusion, the Lagos State Ministry of Health in partnership with the Society for Family Health (SFH) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Tuesday launched the SWIFT Project — a transformative, multi-sectoral initiative.
Launched at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, the SWIFT Project—Strengthening Women’s Initiatives for Family Planning and Technology, aims to bridge gaps in reproductive health access while empowering women economically through entrepreneurship, digital tools, and improved service delivery via pharmacies and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs).
Speaking on behalf of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Dr. Folashade Oludara, Director of Family Health and Nutrition, described SWIFT as a timely solution addressing barriers like cost, stigma, and distance in accessing contraceptives.
“By engaging pharmacies and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs), this project brings care closer to the people and reaffirms the right of every woman to informed reproductive choices,” she said.
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Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, called family planning a “development accelerator,” highlighting that the project builds on the success of the previous IntegratE program, which trained over 1,200 providers and supported nearly 188,000 women.
Pharm. Kene Eruchalu, SFH Deputy Director, commended the Gates Foundation, noting Lagos as the final rollout location after Kaduna and Kano.
“We’re not only training health workers, but specifically empowering women providers because peer trust improves uptake and outcomes. This project is as much about trust as it is about access,” he said.
Project Manager Ummi Rahama-Shehu outlined SWIFT’s three-year vision, emphasising its five strategic pillars: need-based support, investment readiness, market presence, tech-driven access, and stakeholder ecosystem alignment.
“The project aims to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of pharmacies and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) using a social enterprise model focused on a triple bottom line: economic viability, social impact, and gender empowerment,” she stated.
Mr. Olukunle Daramola, Gates Foundation Consultant, praised Lagos for its commitment to health equity, noting that SWIFT will extend voluntary family planning services to hard-to-reach communities using trained, regulated providers.
Also speaking, Dr. Cecelia Mabogunje, Permanent Secretary, Health District VI, and Dr. Taiwo Filusi of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, emphasised SWIFT’s role in strengthening community health structures and promoting women-led healthcare access.
