The Adamawa State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has called for improved funding for women and adolescent health to advance rights, justice, and equality.
Sulaiman Bashir, Executive Director of the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, made the call during a commemorative event marking the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026 on Wednesday in Yola.
It was reported that IWD is celebrated annually on March 8, with the 2026 theme: “Rights, Justice and Action.”
Bashir described the theme as timely, noting that Adamawa was among the states championing maternal and child healthcare initiatives, particularly programmes targeting adolescents.
He said women often bear disproportionate consequences of societal challenges such as limited access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and the effects of climate change.
“It is therefore time for society to change the narrative by taking deliberate actions that promote the rights and wellbeing of women and girls,” Bashir said.
He added that challenges affecting maternal health could be better addressed when adolescents receive reproductive health education early, empowering them as future adults and mothers.
Bashir emphasized that empowering women and girls is essential to achieving the United Nations’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF’s UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, stressed the need for sustained action to ensure women’s access to healthcare, education, protection, and other fundamental rights.
Rafique described the day as an opportunity to recommit to justice and actions that guarantee the rights of women and girls, requiring collective support from both women and men.
She commended the Adamawa Government for its progressive leadership and programmes that improve the wellbeing of women, children, and families.
Rafique highlighted that access to quality healthcare, nutrition, education, safe water, sanitation, and legal protection are basic rights that every woman should enjoy without discrimination.
“Every woman in Adamawa, whether in urban or rural areas such as Numan, Demsa, Shelleng, and other remote communities, should access these basic services,” she said.
She added that empowering women and protecting them from gender-based violence remain key to achieving equality and justice.
Oluseyi Olosunde, Health Officer at UNICEF, highlighted challenges in maternal healthcare, noting a decline in women attending antenatal care and delivering at health facilities.
“Data from a national health survey showed a drop from 82.1 per cent in 2018 to 34.7 per cent between 2023 and 2024,” he said.
He added that many women still deliver at home, contributing to high maternal mortality.
Olosunde called for increased investment to address the situation while also highlighting achievements under the Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (SARAH) initiative supported by UNICEF and the European Union.
He said the initiative had empowered 126,558 adolescents with reproductive health and HIV information and services, while 1,231 health workers and 226 community midwives had been trained across the state to improve service delivery.
It was reported that stakeholders at the event pledged to intensify efforts to ensure that every woman and girl in Adamawa enjoys equal access to basic rights and opportunities.
