By Amaka Madu
The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) has called for stronger accountability measures to improve access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services in Anambra State.
This was the focus of a roundtable meeting organized by WARDC with policymakers, government representatives, healthcare professionals, civil society partners, observatory groups, academia, and development partners to review the progress of SRHR in the state between 2020 and 2025.
Speaking on behalf of WARDC’s Founding Director, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Jennifer Nwokedike said the meeting underscored a collective commitment to advancing SRHR for women and adolescent girls.
She explained that the initiative, “Changing the Law, Changing Lives,” supported by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), seeks to strengthen awareness and accountability in SRHR policy implementation across seven states, including Anambra.
WARDC’s Senior Programme Officer, Peace Etugbo, reviewed outcomes of previous engagements, noting persistent challenges around reproductive health, family planning, and enforcement of the Violence Against Persons (VAP) law.
Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, and the Director of Public Health, Dr. Afam Anaeme, decried the high rate of maternal mortality in the country but commended WARDC’s interventions. The Commissioner urged Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to intensify community sensitization, especially in remote areas, pledging government’s continued collaboration.
Prof. Ifeanyi Ezebialu, State Coordinator of the Society of Gynecologists of Nigeria, applauded government efforts in reducing maternal mortality and improving access to fertility and family planning services.
Also speaking, Eucharia Onyemaobi of Zaram Foundation encouraged youth participation in programs aimed at tackling rape, internal migration, and mental abuse among teenagers, while appreciating WARDC’s sustained partnership in the state.
