Breaking barriers to healthcare: Abuja community celebrates International Women’s Day with free medical services

Prosper Okoye, Abuja

To commemorate International Women’s Day, the Aisha Achimugu Foundation (AAF) joined forces with Junior Chamber International (JCI) and other NGOs to bring much-needed healthcare services to the underserved community of Guyinda in Abuja, providing free medical care to those who need it most.

Speaking after the outreach, AAF’s Programme Director, Dr. Kiema Ogunlana, said the initiative aligned with the 2025 IWD theme, ‘ Accelerating Action.’

Ogunlana highlighted the persistent health challenges faced by Nigerian women, particularly the lack of access to maternal, sexual, and reproductive healthcare.

“Many of these services are provided for free by the government and NGOs, but not all women can access them, and most cannot afford to pay out of pocket,” she said.

“Nigeria still has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Women die from excessive bleeding in labour wards when a single injection—if available—could have saved them.”

She stressed the need to strengthen family health planning services and improve testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), which can have severe consequences for women, including infertility.

Ogunlana also raised concerns about the increasing cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among women following childbirth. She described cancer as another major health threat requiring urgent attention.

Echoing these concerns, JCI Abuja Unity President Chinelo Eze noted that women in rural areas are the most affected by limited healthcare access.

“Women in urban areas have both private and government hospitals readily available to them, with many covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme,” she explained.

She said this informed the decision to carry out the health outreach in Guyinda, among other activities marking International Women’s Day.

“A healthy woman is a wealthy woman,” she added.

Eze called on the government to build more health facilities in rural areas, ensure the availability of qualified professionals, and provide essential medications.

She also urged collective action to accelerate women’s inclusion in all aspects of society, especially in the digital space.

“The yearly commemoration of IWD is neither a waste nor a frivolity. Actions taken over the years have contributed to advancing women’s equity,” she said.

“Rome was not built in a day. Even if we are not seeing much progress right now, we believe that in the years to come, more will be achieved.”

Executive Director of the Mastai Impact Development Foundation, Mariam Mustapha, emphasised the need to recognise the contributions of Nigerian women, describing them as vital to societal development.

She encouraged women to rise above social barriers that restrict them from pursuing careers traditionally seen as male-dominated. According to her, women at the grassroots level should acquire skills, transform them into businesses, and work towards expansion.

Mustapha also highlighted the outreach’s role in improving the psychological well-being of the benefiting community, adding that future initiatives would provide more women with free access to healthcare services.

“This outreach fosters self-love within the community, making people feel valued in a country that cares for them. It also reassures them that others are invested in their well-being, planting a seed that will grow into a more developed and industrious society,” she said.

During the outreach, more than 200 community members, including men and children received essential testing services, including screenings for malaria, typhoid, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.

Health sensitisation sessions were also conducted. A well-stocked dispensary provided medication for diagnosed ailments, along with vaccines. Pregnant women were given mosquito nets to protect against malaria, while doctors were available for counselling and medical consultations.

The initiative was supported by several other NGOs, including Hand Foundation, Timalaya Inclusive Foundation, and the Lady Pharmacists Association.