Women’s health in 2025 is a real emergency. Efforts at improving the system notwithstanding, poor health seeking, high maternal mortality rates, and increased burden of preventable diseases among women are persistent across Nigeria.
Recent data reported one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with approximately 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, the World Bank reported as of 2024. Many of these deaths could be prevented with better healthcare. But why is this still happening?
The paper outlines women’s health, major challenges, and what needs to be different for the lives of women to be safeguarded.
1. Women’s Health and Maternal Mortality in 2025
Maternal mortality remains a major issue. Many women die while giving birth due to a lack of proper medical care, poor hospital conditions, and delays in seeking treatment.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 50,000 Nigerian women die every year due to pregnancy-related complications. Most of these deaths happen because:
- Many women cannot afford quality healthcare.
- There are not enough trained doctors and midwives in rural areas.
- Hospitals lack the proper equipment and medicine to handle emergencies.
If healthcare does not improve, more women will continue to lose their lives unnecessarily.
2. Women’s Health and Access to Family Planning
Family planning enables women to decide on pregnancy. However, in Nigeria, only 19% of women use modern contraceptives. According to UNFPA, 2024, many women still face barriers to accessing birth control, including:
- Cultural and religious barriers that discourage contraceptive use.
- Lack of information about safe family planning methods.
- Shortages of contraceptive supplies in hospitals and clinics.
Without access to birth control, unplanned pregnancies increase, leading to more unsafe abortions and higher health risks for women.
3. The Rise of Gender-Based Violence and Women’s Health Risks
Gender-based violence is another major issue affecting women’s health. In 2025, it was reported that 31% of women in Nigeria have experienced physical or sexual violence. According to UN Women, 2025, this violence causes:
- Severe mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
- Injuries and long-term physical health problems.
- Increased risk of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.
Many women suffer in silence because they fear speaking out or lack legal protection. More action is needed to ensure women can live safely and access medical care when they need it.
4. Women’s Health and Cancer: The Silent Killer
Breast and cervical cancer are causes of death for women in Nigeria. Yet, many women do not get regular screenings due to:
- High costs of medical tests.
- A lack of cancer screening centers, especially in rural areas.
- Low awareness about early symptoms.
The Nigerian Cancer Society reports that over 26,000 women die from breast and cervical cancer every year. Early detection can save lives, but without better awareness and healthcare access, more women will continue to suffer.
5. The Way Forward for Women’s Health in Nigeria
To improve women’s health, urgent action is needed in the following areas:
- Better healthcare funding: The government must invest more in hospitals, equipment, and medical staff.
- Stronger policies on gender-based violence: Laws must protect women from abuse, and survivors must get medical and psychological support.
- Increased access to family planning: Women should have the right to choose when and how they want to have children.
- Free or low-cost cancer screenings: Early detection programs should be available in all states to reduce cancer deaths.
The time to act is now. Women’s health should be a top priority in Nigeria’s development agenda.
Conclusion
Women’s health in 2025 still faces many challenges, but change is possible. With better policies, more funding, and improved healthcare access, we can save lives and create a healthier future for Nigerian women.
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