Pictures:
Keynote Speaker and former State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Akabuike (middle,standing), Head of Service, Barr Ngozi Anuli Iwuono (2nd right) and Prof. Njideka Ebisi (left) during the 2026 WOW Conversation in Awka, Anambra State and a cross section of the participants
By Uche Chukwu, Onitsha
A non-governmental organisation, Worldwide Organisation of Women (WOW) Africa, has organised a high-level conversation aimed at rallying stakeholders to support increased access to healthcare services for women.
The event, themed “Healthy Women, Sustainable Society,” featured the presentation of business grants to four members of the WOW community, distribution of food crop seedlings to participants, dance performances, giveaways, conviviality sessions, and a symbolic tribute to a deceased Team WOW member, Dame Tessy Udemezue-Okoye.
Sustained Advocacy Key to Women’s Healthcare
Welcoming participants, the Founder of WOW Africa, Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Carol Ugochukwu, stressed that only sustained advocacy against the violation of women’s rights can guarantee quality, adequate, regular, and affordable healthcare for women.
Represented by the Secretary of WOW Africa, Mrs. Ngozi Chukwujekwu, Ugochukwu noted that she has championed the cause of women’s rights and empowerment for decades, including serving as one of Nigeria’s delegates to the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China, in 1995.
She urged stakeholders to prioritise women’s well-being as a foundation for building a sustainable society.
“The truth is simple: a society cannot thrive while its women are struggling to survive,” she said.
According to her, the struggles faced by many women include sacrificing their own meals to feed their children, travelling long distances to poorly equipped healthcare facilities, and carrying overwhelming responsibilities without adequate support or time to care for themselves.
She called on policymakers to recognise unpaid care work as real work and address what she described as a growing public health crisis caused by chronic exhaustion among women.
“Women’s voices can no longer be dismissed as mere complaints or noise,” she added.
Building a Better Future for Women and Girls
In a thought-provoking presentation titled “The Future,” delivered on behalf of the Executive Director of WOW Africa, Attorney Amaka Akudinobi, participants were reminded that the future for African women and girls must surpass that of previous generations.
The message, read by the Media Director of WOW Africa and programme anchor, Dr. Ify Aronu, and co-presented by two students of Capital City Secondary School, Awka, advocated collective efforts to support women and girls.
The presentation emphasised the need to nurture one another, share knowledge and opportunities, and work together to eliminate harmful cultural practices that threaten the health, dignity, welfare, and well-being of women and girls.
Experts Highlight Health Challenges Facing Women
Speaking on the conference theme, “Healthy Women, Sustainable Society,” the keynote speaker and former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, described the theme as timely and relevant.
The renowned gynaecologist presented statistical data highlighting factors that continue to limit women’s access to quality healthcare. He noted that adopting healthier lifestyles and maintaining greater health consciousness could improve the life expectancy of Nigerian women, currently estimated at 55.8 years.
Akabuike urged women to prioritise regular medical check-ups and instil positive values in their children to help build a healthier and more productive society.
Focus on Marital and Mental Health
Delivering a presentation on “Marital Health and Responsibility,” the Director of the Centre for Gender Studies, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Njideka Ebisi, highlighted major causes of maternal mortality among Nigerian women, including reproductive health challenges, communicable diseases, and gender-based violence.
She encouraged women to improve their happiness index and emotional well-being as a way of preventing terminal illnesses and premature death.
In a goodwill message, the Head of Service of the Anambra State Government, Barr. Ngozi Anuli Iwouno, condemned social practices that undermine women’s development despite their critical role in family and societal growth. She described women as the beacons of society.
Also speaking, women’s development advocate, Mr. Chris Molokwu, stressed the importance of health consciousness among women.
Other presentations at the event included “Cultural Norms vs Women’s Health” by social worker and Founder of Davina Care Foundation, Yohanna Rachael, and “Mental Health Awareness” by Chinenye Ilona, a Certified Sexual Assault Trauma Counsellor at Ntasi Centre, Enugwu-Ukwu.
The event concluded with renewed calls for collaborative action to improve women’s access to healthcare, eliminate harmful cultural practices, and create a healthier and more sustainable future for women and society at large.
Tags:
WOW Africa, Women’s Health, Healthcare Access, Carol Ugochukwu, Amaka Akudinobi, Joe Akabuike, Njideka Ebisi, Women Empowerment, Anambra State, Gender Equality, Maternal Health, Mental Health Awareness, Women’s Rights, Sustainable Society, NGO Activities, Onitsha, Nigeria Women Development, Health Advocacy.
