Lagos State is witnessing a troubling development where women face multiple healthcare needs that the system struggles to meet. As the population continues to swell, women suffer from a shortage of resources and the impacts of gender inequality. The healthcare failures push Lagos women towards dire circumstances.
A Mother’s Ordeal at Lagos General Hospital
Omalade Shittu, 25, experienced firsthand the cracks in the system. While in labor with her first child, she waited in vain for immediate medical attention at the Lagos General Hospital. The delay in care led to complications, eventually requiring an emergency cesarean section. Shittu expressed her frustration, wishing for more doctors to help manage the rising number of pregnant women, which could reduce the maternal mortality rate in the state.
Maternal Mortality and Healthcare Shortages
Despite some investments by the Lagos State Government, maternal deaths remain high, with 420 deaths per 100,000 births according to a 2022 report. The government has acknowledged a shortage of 30,000 doctors to meet the healthcare demands of the growing population. Prof. Akin Abayomi, the State Commissioner for Health, has linked the personnel shortage to the persistent brain drain, where healthcare professionals leave for better opportunities abroad.
Women Face Worsening Health Challenges
Lagos women encounter numerous health challenges due to resource shortages and gender disparities. These include reproductive health concerns, heart diseases, cancers, and mental health struggles. The rapid influx of people into Lagos, now home to over 28 million, further strains the healthcare system.
The Impact of Brain Drain on Lagos Healthcare
Experts emphasize that brain drain is a critical issue affecting healthcare in Lagos. The state’s fast-growing population exacerbates the problem, leaving facilities overwhelmed. Ayo Adebusoye, former board member of the Lagos State Health Management Agency, highlighted how Lagos’s limited resources, combined with a rapidly increasing population, stretch available medical services. He called for better compensation for healthcare workers and more robust funding to improve conditions.
Funding Challenges Hamper Progress
Adebusoye also underscored how insufficient funding hampers the health sector. Delays in budget releases slow down projects to improve family planning and maternal healthcare. For example, out of the N227 million budgeted for family planning in 2023, only N81 million was disbursed. Adebusoye advocated for greater private sector involvement and suggested that 15% of local government budgets be allocated to healthcare. This would enhance the services and infrastructure needed to meet the growing demand.
Struggles in Accessing Family Planning Services
Despite a policy offering free family planning, many women in Lagos still face barriers. Abiodun Orejabiwa, Senior Special Adviser on Women’s Affairs in Alimosho LGA, noted that financial limitations prevent women in underserved communities from accessing necessary healthcare services. In some areas, women pay between N1,000 and N2,000 for family planning, making it inaccessible for many. Orejabiwa stressed the need for completely free family planning services and recounted the struggles of women unable to afford basic healthcare supplies during labor.
The Dire Need for More Healthcare Workers
Adekoya Abiola, a retired nurse and advocate, shared her concern over the stark understaffing in Lagos hospitals. In some cases, a single nurse may care for up to 100 women during antenatal care. When those women go into labor, the same nurse often oversees multiple deliveries simultaneously. Adekoya called on the government to hire more healthcare workers and provide better compensation, warning that the current system places patients and healthcare providers at risk.
Calls for Increased Funding and Reforms in Family Planning
Nurse Ataigbe Ejiro echoed calls for increased funding for family planning and criticized religious leaders who opposed it. She argued that this opposition harms women, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, who rely on family planning services to manage their reproductive health.
Religious Influence and Women’s Health
Rev. Joe Ihitegbulem of the Association of Practitioners of Community Media (APCOM) stressed the importance of improving women’s access to healthcare. He highlighted how some religious leaders resist family planning, equating it to moral decay. Ihitegbulem urged for a shift in these perspectives, arguing that women’s reproductive rights are critical to their overall health and economic well-being.
Changing Gender Norms to Improve Maternal Health
Community leader High Chief Hakeem Adeyemi emphasized the need for men to support their wives in family planning and maternal healthcare. Adeyemi called for awareness campaigns to educate men about the benefits of family planning, aiming to inspire male involvement in women’s health decisions.
Religious Leaders Urged to Challenge Harmful Practices
Dr. Ajoke Sariyu Ashiru, Chairperson of Lagos State Interfaith Public Health Advocacy, urged religious leaders to play a proactive role in promoting male involvement in healthcare and rejecting harmful practices that hinder women from accessing medical services. She condemned traditional customs like female genital mutilation and forced marriages, which negatively impact women’s health. Ashiru stressed the importance of engaging men in health education to improve the future of women’s healthcare in Lagos.
A Promising Future for Women’s Health
As challenges persist, there is optimism for progress in women’s healthcare in Lagos. Collaborative efforts across communities, government sectors, and religious groups are seen as essential to addressing the gaps and improving health outcomes for the city’s women.
