Akwa Ibom State has once again been ranked as having one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in Nigeria, standing at 5.5 percent, while also contributing 12 percent of the country’s tuberculosis cases.
The ranking emerged from a comprehensive situational analysis conducted under the Gender Equality Fund project by Lawyers Alert in collaboration with Media Health Right.
The report also highlights malaria as a leading cause of morbidity in the state, particularly among pregnant women and children under five.
The findings expose critical gender-related barriers that hinder women’s access to healthcare services for tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria.
These challenges, according to the report, stem from systemic inequalities, cultural norms, economic constraints, and policy gaps that continue to obstruct women’s right to equitable healthcare.
Speaking during a virtual media briefing in Uyo over the weekend, President of Lawyers Alert, Dr. Rommy Mom, stressed the urgent need to bridge gender disparities in healthcare access, particularly for vulnerable women in the State.
Akwa Ibom has consistently recorded one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in Nigeria, with co-infection of tuberculosis further worsening the situation.
Malaria remains a major cause of illness and death among pregnant women and children under five.
Despite ongoing interventions, barriers such as stigma, gender inequality, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure persist, limiting progress.
He noted that the situational analysis underscores critical policy gaps and gender disparities in healthcare, calling for a community-driven approach to tackle these issues.
Addressing these challenges requires strengthening healthcare systems, improving community engagement, and combating stigma and discrimination.
In a joint statement endorsed by Dr. Rommy Mom and MHR President, Alu Azege, the report identified major obstacles to healthcare access for women, including economic dependency, which makes it difficult to afford medical services.
It also highlighted stigma and discrimination, noting that fear of social exclusion discourages women from seeking tuberculosis and HIV treatment.
Cultural and religious beliefs, which often lead people to rely on traditional remedies rather than modern healthcare, were also identified as a major challenge.
The report further pointed out that inadequate healthcare infrastructure, including frequent stockouts of tuberculosis medications, poor diagnostic tools, and insufficient facilities, particularly in rural areas, continues to hinder effective service delivery.
The absence of gender-sensitive healthcare policies has also resulted in fragmented interventions, limiting their impact on women’s health.To address these challenges, the report recommended integrating tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria treatment into a single comprehensive healthcare framework to enhance efficiency and ensure holistic care.
It also called for economic empowerment programs for women to reduce financial dependency and improve access to medical services.
Strengthening women-led organizations and advocacy groups to push for gender-sensitive healthcare policies and challenge harmful cultural norms was also emphasised.
The report stressed the need to improve policy implementation, ensuring better visibility and enforcement of existing health policies that address gender disparities and stigma reduction.
It also advocated for greater collaboration with private sector players to address funding gaps and improve the availability of essential medications and diagnostic tools.
Lawyers Alert and Media Health Right have urged the Akwa Ibom State Government, healthcare providers, civil society organizations, and international partners to prioritize gender-transformative approaches in addressing these healthcare challenges.
According to them, tackling the root causes of reliance on traditional medicine and medication shortages in health facilities is critical to ensuring a more cohesive and effective healthcare system.
A well-structured and equitable healthcare system must provide universal access to prevention, treatment, and care services.
The Gender Equality Fund-supported initiative, Law, Rights, and Community Empowerment for Social Change in Tuberculosis, HIV, and Malaria Response, is designed to remove gender-related barriers to healthcare access in Nigeria, focusing on women and vulnerable groups affected by these diseases.
The project strengthens policy advocacy, community-based interventions, and stakeholder collaboration to improve healthcare services in Akwa Ibom and Benue States.
Lawyers Alert is a Nigerian non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting human rights, gender equality, and access to justice for marginalised populations.
It focuses on removing systemic barriers to healthcare, legal protection, and social equity through policy advocacy, legal aid, and community empowerment.
Media Health Right is a media and advocacy group that partners with civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and government agencies to amplify voices for social change.
Through strategic communication, the organization raises awareness, challenges harmful societal norms, and promotes gender equality and human rights.