A recent national survey in Nigeria has revealed that more than two in five working women, constituting 43.4% across regions and industries, are seeking enhanced health coverage, including breast cancer care and menopause support, among other major health issues affecting women.
The publication, titled “State of Women’s Health in Nigeria Report,” by Healthtracka’s Foundation for Advocacy, Innovation and Research (FAIR), aims to understand health-related issues affecting women at work with a solution-driven approach.
The study highlights the gap in current health insurance coverage, and provides actionable recommendations for policymakers and employers.
It also discloses that many Nigerian women feel unsupported and exposed under current health insurance plans.
Respondents highlighted gaps in coverage for essential needs like fertility, maternity, and menopause, calling for insurance that reflects women’s real-life health realities.
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The report emphasizes that women’s health at work is a growing concern.
It urges employers to embed women’s health into core policies—offering paid leave for menstrual and menopause-related symptoms and expanding coverage to include fertility and reproductive care.
It also recommends training managers to support women without stigma.
The three-part study includes a state-by-state breakdown of women’s health in Nigeria, insights from Nigerian researchers, and a review of workplace health policies.
Key policy recommendations include a minimum 15% allocation of state budgets to health, with full fund utilization; using gender-disaggregated data for accountability; and tying future funding to measurable improvements in women’s health services.
More recommendations include integrating home-care models, self-sampling tools, and digital support into care plans; and promoting partnerships with private providers, nonprofits, and researchers.
The report insists women must shape policies and programs to ensure services reflect their lived realities.
Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson, Executive Director of Healthtracka’s FAIR, called the report “a call to action,” saying:
“Women’s health is not a side issue; it is a foundation for economic growth, social progress, and generational prosperity.”
