Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation Advocates for Gender Equality Investments on IWD

In observance of International Women’s Day (IWD), Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation is calling for stakeholders to invest in empowering women and girls to make decisions about their lives and health.

The organization’s goal is to achieve gender equality and progress by addressing the gaps in health and legal reforms that limit women’s empowerment.

According to the World Economic Report, Nigeria ranks 122 out of 144 countries on the Gender Gap index, highlighting the need for gender equality in various areas such as access to health services, economic opportunities, legal rights enforcement, and societal norms.

Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation’s research reveals that women already living in poverty are more likely to experience unintended pregnancies due to limited access to contraception, education, and knowledge about sexual and reproductive health.

Additionally, societal ills like gender-based violence remain widespread, further impacting women’s well-being.

To achieve progress with the Sustainable Development Goals, the organization emphasizes the need for concerted human rights-based efforts through multi-sectoral approaches to ensure gender equality at multiple levels.

This includes targeted investments by key ministries, such as the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice, as well as the private sector.

Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation is committed to empowering women and girls to have bodily autonomy and exercise their sexual and reproductive health rights.

Through collective action and partnerships, they aim to transform societies and enable women, girls, and vulnerable persons to manage their fertility and realize their full potential.