MADEN HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION ADVOCATES ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS HEALTH RIGHTS AT SUB-NATIONAL LEVELS

"Investing in women’s and girls’ health is a high-impact strategy for achieving state development goals. Now is the time for policy leadership, funding, and partnership that ensure no girl or woman is left behind" MHF.

Across Nigerian states, women and girls continue to face preventable health and dignity challenges linked to period poverty, weak school health systems, and limited access to primary healthcare. These gaps disproportionately affect adolescent girls and women in underserved communities, undermining education outcomes, health equity, and sustainable development.

This was the assertion of the Maden HealthCare Foundation, MHF during an advocacy sensitization programme.

According to MHF, "Over 30 million girls and women lack access to adequate menstrual products," pointing out that "one  in four adolescent girls miss school during menstruation due to lack of supplies, privacy, or facilities.

"Only about 49% of girls attend lower secondary school nationally, with significantly lower rates in some states while many public schools lack *gender-responsive WASH facilities.

"Women and girls in rural and low-income communities face persistent barriers to basic healthcare access", the group stated.

Reacting as to why this matters at state levels, the health advocacy group revealed that "State governments play a critical role in education delivery, primary healthcare, and community health outreach. Gender-responsive policies at state level can significantly improve girls’ school attendance, women’s health outcomes, and long-term development indicators."

Speaking on priority rights gaps, it highlighted five key points to include;

* Menstrual health and dignity

* Healthy and safe school environments

* Access to essential healthcare

* Adolescent girls’ access to accurate health information

* Inclusion of marginalized women and girls

On state-kevel policy, MHF stated that sub-nationals have been urged to; 

1. Integrate menstrual health into state health and education policies.

2. Strengthen school health programs, including menstrual health education and routine screenings.

3. Support community-based healthcare delivery, including medical outreach.

4. Ensure access to age-appropriate, rights-based health information for adolescent girls, and lastly, 

5. Partner with grassroots organizations delivering proven interventions.

Addressing its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Maden HealthCare Foundation disclosed that this advocacy advances: SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being; SDG 4 – Quality Education; SDG 5 – Gender Equality; SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation; SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities.

On Policy Pledge/Commitment, "We call on State Governments to commit to:

* Prioritizing funding for menstrual health, school health, and primary healthcare in state budgets

* Implementing gender-responsive school and health policies

* Strengthening partnerships with community-based organizations

* Tracking progress through inclusive data and accountability mechanisms.

This commitment represents a concrete step toward protecting the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of women and girls across the state.

Role of Maden Healthcare Foundation

Maden Healthcare Foundation delivers menstrual health programs, school health interventions, and medical missions that bridge policy and community impact. State-level collaboration can scale these solutions sustainably.

On its call to action, the Maden HealthCare Foundation MHF stressed that, investing in women’s and girls’ health is a high-impact strategy for achieving state development goals. Now is the time for policy leadership, funding, and partnership that ensure no girl or woman is left behind.