The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Women’s Health, Dr Adanna Steinacker, has called for stronger collaboration and institutional partnerships among key stakeholders to improve health outcomes for women and girls across Nigeria.
Speaking during a meeting with the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Dr Steinacker said the country’s large population and diversity make women’s health a shared national responsibility, rather than the task of a single office or individual.
She noted that maternal mortality, particularly in some regions of the country, remains the most urgent concern of her office, alongside family planning, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health awareness.
According to her, planned interventions will be implemented through existing institutions, professional bodies and established systems to prevent duplication and ensure sustainability.
“The goal is to align efforts, strengthen existing systems and build locally owned programmes that can sustainably improve women’s health,” she said.
Dr Steinacker described the creation of the presidential office on women’s health as a landmark development, noting that its mandate includes accurate advocacy, improved health literacy and coordinated national action.
“This is the first time there is an office dedicated to women’s health. We are looking to fill the gaps in advocacy, health education, maternal health, sexual and reproductive health, as well as mental health,” she explained.
She added that digital media and advocacy platforms would serve as a national voice for women’s health, stressing the importance of organisations like MWAN in gathering credible data and disseminating information through structured campaigns and community networks.
“We need digital advocacy to improve health literacy, geopolitically anchored campaigns on maternal, sexual and reproductive and mental health, as well as high-level summits and coalition-building involving government, civil society, the private sector and global partners,” she said.
Responding, MWAN President, Dr Zainab Kwaru Muhammed, said the association has an extensive nationwide network and is well positioned to support the Federal Government’s women’s health agenda.
She highlighted MWAN’s ongoing interventions in maternal and child health, noting that collaboration with the presidency would significantly expand their reach and impact.
“We believe we have a ready tool for these campaigns. We have a strong presence across the states and are eager to work with your office. As medical women operating in the digital age, we need resources to effectively deliver these campaigns,” she said.
The meeting signals a renewed push by the Federal Government to deepen partnerships and coordinate national efforts aimed at improving women’s health outcomes across Nigeria.
