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Tag: WARDC

  • WARDC, CRR unveil online hub to empower adolescent girls, women on SRHR

    WARDC, CRR unveil online hub to empower adolescent girls, women on SRHR

    In an age where the internet often shapes how young people learn about their bodies, the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) has taken a bold step to provide safer, accurate, and youth-friendly access to information on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

    In partnership with the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), WARDC has launched the National SRHR Hub for Adolescent Girls and Women (AGW), an online platform called SRHR Naija Hub, aimed at creating a digital safe space for young women and girls to access information, resources, and support services on sexual and reproductive health.

    The web-based platform, unveiled during a recent event in Lagos, also featured a live demonstration that drew excitement from participants, including persons with disabilities. Many described the hub as a timely intervention to address misinformation and the growing risks young people face online.

    Speaking at the launch, the Acting Executive Director of WARDC, Dr. Princess Olufemi-Kayode, described the hub as a collaborative initiative designed to empower adolescent girls and women with accurate, accessible, and inclusive SRHR information.

    “The SRHR Naija Hub is not just a website, it is a safe space and a movement toward dignity, autonomy, and informed choice. It offers peer-led education, digital resources, legal support, and referral pathways for SRHR services. For WARDC, this is a strategic investment in the next generation of feminist leaders.” She said. 

    Dr. Olufemi-Kayode explained that the platform was developed in close collaboration with youth advocates, health professionals, and community stakeholders to ensure it meets the real needs of adolescents and young women across Nigeria.

    Participants at the launch hailed the initiative as a major step in addressing the challenges of misinformation about sexual and reproductive health.

    One of them, a Social Work student at the University of Lagos, Kehinde Oyagha, noted that many young girls often rely on the internet for answers but end up encountering misleading or harmful content.

    “Many girls, especially preteens, are naturally curious, but because of the internet, they often access wrong or harmful information about their bodies. This leads to digital abuse and miseducation about reproductive health.” Oyagha said. 

    Oyagha called for a more interactive approach, where young girls can learn from one another through online mentorship and peer education.

    “We want a space where girls can learn from each other’s experiences, almost like a mini mentorship programme,” she said, adding that social media can play a powerful role in changing perceptions.

    “If influencers talk about these issues, consent, contraceptives, and health, it normalises the conversation,” she added. “We also need collaboration with government and health professionals to make youth-friendly centres visible and accessible.”

    With the launch of the SRHR Naija Hub, WARDC and CRR are leveraging technology to bridge the information gap, empowering adolescent girls and women to make informed choices and advocate for their rights in a digital age where misinformation often thrives.

  • Group tasks government to reinstate guidelines for safe abortion, launches pink movement

    Group tasks government to reinstate guidelines for safe abortion, launches pink movement

    • By Omolara Akintoye 

    Disturbed by the rate at which women die through unsafe abortion, a Non Governmental Organisation, Under the aegis of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, (WARDC), has staged a walk with over 500 women clamouring for a legalised safe abortion process.

    The group led a protest against the unsafe termination of pregnancy in the state where victims of incest and rape becomes pregnant. 

    Aside these issues, there are health reasons why women opt for pregnancy termination.

    The women, arrayed in pink, also displayed their banners and placards with information such as “If this practice is legalized, it gives someone an opportunity to live” ; ‘What if one has a blood disease” , “Women’s lives matter, end unsafe abortion”. “This  is what the Pink movement is all about, we are campaigning and equally compiling signatures.

    The Pink Movement according to the Executive Director, WARDC, Dr. Mrs Abiola Akiode-Afolabi, is necessary because there has been a rise in the number of rape and incest cases, leading to pregnancy.

     “By law, these victims (many times are children) are unable to access safe abortion services. They opt for quacks, self-help  and dangerous drinks which lead to health complications and deaths,” she lamented.

    “Over 500 Women groups, Women  Civil society organisations and  community  women participate in the Walk to demand the reinstatement of the repealed Lagos State Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancies,” Akiode-Afolabi said. 

    “Unsafe abortion in Nigeria constitutes 10 per cent of the global maternal death rate and stands as the second leading cause of maternal mortality in the country.

    Read Also: I’m not proud of abortion I did at age 20, says Phyna

    ‘Victims of rape who seek unsafe abortions face even greater risks to their health and safety. Due to the stigma and taboo surrounding sexual assault, many may feel ashamed or afraid to seek medical help and may resort to unsafe methods of terminating their pregnancies. This can include using harmful substances, self-inflicting wounds, or seeking assistance from unqualified providers.

    “These unsafe abortion methods can lead to serious complications such as infection, hemorrhage, and even death. Victims of rape who are forced to undergo unsafe abortions may also suffer from psychological trauma and long-term physical consequences.

    “It is crucial for these individuals to have access to safe and legal abortion services, as well as support and resources to address their trauma and protect their overall well-being. Efforts should be made to ensure that victims of rape have the necessary healthcare and assistance to navigate the difficult challenges they face” she said.

    “What about someone with a blood disease,or any form of health challenge that can claim her life? This need to be considered.We need to make it safe.

    She  emphasizes the need for the government to prioritize women’s health, rights, and lives despite the “sentiments” that may surround the matter.

    Mrs Akiyode-Afolabi said the guidelines were developed to save women from preventable deaths, noting that the suspension undermines the crucial objective.

    “We understand that certain religious, cultural, and philosophical convictions oppose the document developed over four years,” she said.

    She added that the denial of safe abortion care to survivors of rape not only violates the right to health and privacy but also may infringe upon the prohibition of ill-treatment, 

    The guidelines were developed by the Lagos State Ministry of Health alongside,

    the Society Of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, (SOGON,) NMA, and CSOs. The guidelines are like other health guidelines (e.g HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, etc) to guide health workers on processes of offering safe abortion within the confines of the law (including pregnancies that endanger the lives and health of the pregnant woman). The guidelines were repealed and we are demanding a reinstatement” Dr. Afolabi stated.

    Dr Abiola-Akiyode, who led the protest, claimed that 10% of global maternal deaths occur in Lagos. However, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu suspended that guideline. But we have come to urge the Lagos  State government to reinstate the guidelines.

    “Few years ago,medical doctors in Lagos State, adopted the guideline for safe termination of pregnancy in Lagos and other legal indications in accordance with criminal law Section 201 of the Lagos state which allow safe termination of pregnancy under two conditions; one when it endangers the life of the mother and secondly when it endangers the physical health of the mother. 

    Marching through Ikeja environ, the group demanded that government obey the section of the Law by protecting pregnant women.

    A representative of the Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria,

    Alhaja Zanab Daudu said she joined the protest because of the challenge women face especially on health issues. ” Take for instance someone with an ectopic pregnancy, it has to be terminated to safe the life of the mother”

    “A representative of Women Wings, Christian Association of Nigeria, (WOWICAN), Elizabeth Olubanke Bassey said that a lot of factors should be considered. What will be our gain if women die untimely. It is better to be safe than sorry”