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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health has stressed the importance of a stronger partnership with women’s professional bodies and relevant stakeholders to advance the health and general well-being of women.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health, Dr Adanna Steinacker, made the observations at a meeting with members of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) in Abuja.
She said the essence of the meeting was to take a deep and critical look at interventions and policies that border on women’s health across the country.
She said, “The goal is to align, strengthen systems and ensure sustainable, locally owned programmes that improve women’s health without duplicating existing efforts.
“This is the first time there’s an Office for Women’s Health at the Presidency. We are looking to fill the gaps of accurate advocacy, raising health literacy, and maternal health, sexual and reproductive health, as well as mental health.”
She highlighted MWAN’s unique role as clinicians and leaders who work directly with women and girls across diverse settings, providing both evidence-based insights and real-world perspectives crucial for improving service delivery.
“That combination is essential to identifying persistent gaps in care, strengthening quality, and improving outcomes across the continuum,” she said.
Dr Steinacker appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating the first-ever Office of Women’s Health in Nigeria, describing it as a significant step that underscores the administration’s recognition of women’s health as central to national prosperity.
She noted that the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda prioritises human capital development and places health at the centre of national reform efforts.
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She said the recent launch of RenewHER, the Presidential Women’s Health Transformation Initiative, signalled a renewed commitment to system-level improvements in women’s health outcomes.
The initiative, she explained, is being implemented in close coordination with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, led by the minister, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, led by Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim.
Outlining RenewHER’s mission, Dr Steinacker said the programme seeks to elevate women’s health as a national priority through three pillars.
She also noted that mental health remains under-discussed in the country and stressed the need for greater awareness and targeted interventions for women and girls.
MWAN National President, Dr Zainab Mohammed-Idris, in her remarks, assured the Presidency of the association’s readiness to partner on initiatives aimed at improving women’s health and rights.
She highlighted MWAN’s longstanding focus on maternal and child health and noted that the association has lined up several programmes for the coming year.
Dr Mohammed-Idris added that MWAN hopes to strengthen its presence in the FCT and would require the Presidency’s support to achieve this.
“We are in all 36 states and the FCT. Our 50th anniversary is around the corner, and we have several activities planned for this year and next year. We are ready to collaborate closely with your office,” she said.
Also speaking, the president of the MWAN FCT chapter, Dr Maureen Umeakuewulu, commended Steinacker’s leadership and expressed confidence in her ability to deliver on the office’s mandate.
She reiterated the association’s commitment to supporting the Presidency’s efforts while calling for reciprocal support for MWAN initiatives, particularly in maternal mortality reduction and cervical cancer screening.
