By Laide Akinbpade, Abuja

Stakeholders in the Health sector on Thursday, tasked the Federal Government (FG), to make women uterine health a priority in Nigeria.

This appeal was made at a one-day strategic roundtable on Uterine Health in Nigeria, organized by Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoH&SW) with The White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria and Youterus, in Abuja.

Uterine health is the overall condition and functionality of the uterus encompassing, it’s structural integrity and ability to perform its various roles such as menstruation and carrying a pregnancy.

Uterine health conditions like fibroid, abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, endometrisis and menopause impact on millions of Nigerian women but are often excluded from national health policies and services.

It has been discovered that fibroid alone accounts for 30% of gynecological consultations at Nigerian tertiary hospitals.

With Uterine health missing from from the key national framework, it is therefore imperative for government to give it a priority.

Dr. Binyerem Ukaire said, women are the bedrock of every nation and are crucial to social economic development of any nation. A woman reproductive health cannot be good without good uterine health.

Dr. Samuel Oyeniyi, Director Reproductive Health, Division FMoH &SW, in his paper presentation titled, ‘Uterine Health and its public health importance in Nigeria’, at the occasion said Uterine Fibroids are extremely common affecting approxemately 12.1% of Nigerian women about 12.8million women nationwide

“Among black women the lifetime risk rises to 80% by age 50. Fibroids are major cause of hospital visits and gynecological surgeries leading to symptoms such as chronic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, anemia and infertility, most women affected are in their productive age.

“Endometrisis affects upto 48.1% symptomatic Nigerian women in some studies, causing severe pelvic pain, painful menstruations and infertility and diagnosis takes between 7 to 10 years.

“PCO affects 17 -28% of Nigerian women disrupting mentrual cycles and causing hormonal imbalance that can lead to diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular risk and can be undertreated or underdiagnosied.

“While Pelvic Inflammatpry Disease (PID), affects 116 per 100,000 women in West Africa, making it a leading cause of infertility and ecotopic pregnancy in Nigeria.

“Cervical cancer causes more than 8,000 deaths and more than 13,000 new cases yearly in Nigeria . it is prevented by HPV vaccines and about 12 million Nigerian girls have been reached “.

But he said Nigeria’s Non-communicable Disease (NCD), action plan provide an opportunity to include chronic uterine conditions.

He concluded in his presentation by saying, investing $1 in uterine health would yield $9 in benefits.

Dr. Nana Chidi Emmanuel Chairperson, Board of Trustees White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria, in her welcome speech at the roundtable said it is imperative that women health especially uterine health should be prioritized in Nigeria’s health system.

She said currently women are going through a lot psychologically, mentally and other wise, so women health must be a priority to any government all over the world.

She said, “Chronic uterine conditions such as fibroids, abnormal uterine bleeding, and endometrosis affect millions of Nigerian women and girls, causing immeasurable suffering, recurrent medical crises, and economic hardship. Despite this immense burden, women facing these conditions have long confronted silence, stigma, and systemic neglect. Too often, their pain is dismissed, their diagnosis delayed, and their pathways to care—financially and logistically—out of reach.

“Today, together with our committed partners at Youterus Health, we affirm our collective will to change this narrative. We aim to place uterine health at the center of national policies in Nigeria and Africa, financing, and service delivery—moving it from the margins of awareness into the mainstream of Nigeria’s health and development agenda.

“Let us remember that at the heart of these deliberations are the stories and hopes of real women and girls—mothers, daughters, sisters, friends—who endure the daily realities of untreated uterine conditions. Their experiences fuel our urgency and remind us all why this work matters deeply. Our collective efforts here today can catalyze meaningful change that restores health, dignity, and hope.

“WRA Nigeria firmly believes that the leadership of the government working hand in hand civil society and the private sector, is essential to drive durable, just, and people-centered changes. It will take our united voices, innovative models, and steady commitment to dismantle the barriers that have persisted for too long”.

Fatou Wurie, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Youterus Health,
in her welcome speech said, uterine health affects millions of Nigerian women and it is under developed women wellbeing and it impact, not only the physical health but social and economy of any nation.

And this uterine health challenges have caused immeasurable suffering in women in Nigeria.

She lamented that most often the pain women feel is ignored and diagnosis delayed.

She said it is imperative for Federal Government to place uterine as a national priority that should be taken up.

“Uterine Health has long being an issue in the world. Uterine Health should be a national issue that should be on a top burner. We are really looking forward to government priotising uterine health in Nigeria”, she said.

Austin Akpakwu, from the office of the Vice President, who represented the Senior Special Assistant to Vice President on Public health, said the office of the Vice President, is keen to support in addressing the uterine health challenges in Nigeria, “It is a laudable project and the office of Vice President is very keen in supporting this project. I have a junior sister that has uterine health issue and that is presently in the hospital so this is very important issue and all hands must be on desk to address it”.