Women as Architects of Renewed Hope and Justice in the Nigerian Health System

A workplace health survey (2025) revealed that about half of Nigerian women face serious  health problems related to their jobs, such as stress, burnout, reproductive issues, and mental  health challenges. 43.3% demanded health insurance coverage. The WHO Report (2025) also  showed that less than 10% of individuals with mental health issues receive care. This  highlights a systemic gap in health services and the urgent need for women who bear the  brunt to lead the change. 

As a working-class woman myself who consistently manages work-life balance, I have  endured episodes of burnout and learned the hard way to take periodic pauses. We recently  lost someone to burnout; she was hospitalized, but couldn’t detach her mind from her children.  She discharged herself from the hospital without the approval of the medical team to care for  her kids. Unfortunately, by the time she was rushed back to the hospital, it was too late. This  moment calls for reflection and action, both individually and collectively.  

Neglecting women’s health and emotional well-being is an injustice. Women form the  backbone of Nigeria’s health workforce, bearing the emotional weight of caregiving. Yet, their  voices are absent in leadership roles where policies are formulated, budgets are decided, and  health strategies are devised. Their leadership will create a strategic roadmap for vital health  and emotional support, making care more equitable and effective. 

Women understand the inequalities shaping health outcomes. The Women in Leadership  Advancement Network (WILAN) White Paper (2024) found that Nigerian states with women  in health leadership achieved better health results. When women lead, justice and fairness  are promoted.  

Mental health remains a silent crisis underpinning this systemic deficit. The Nigerian Mental  Health Act (2023) was a promising milestone for improving mental health in Nigeria; however,  its implementation has been painfully slow, with fewer than 200 psychiatrists serving over 200  million Nigerians.  

Women are best placed to tackle health issues affecting women. Women’s health leaders will  prioritise maternal mental health, workplace wellbeing, community health initiatives, and  women’s health concerns, as they grasp the ramifications of untreated postpartum depression,  workplace stress leading to reduced productivity, and neglected mental health care. Women  are primarily on the receiving end of these issues, and the increasing loss of women reflects  systemic failure and injustice. 

The National Gender Policy (2021) explicitly states that mainstreaming gender in governance  is essential for equity and justice. The African Union Agenda 2063 and the Maputo Protocol  call for gender equality in governance; however, these remain mere promises as women  continue to lag in health leadership roles in Nigeria.  

Some argue that leadership positions should be “gender neutral,” but this fosters structural  exclusion, bias, and injustice. Intentional inclusion through equitable resource allocation,  mentorship programmes, and leadership pipelines will foster women’s leadership in health.  This must be planned and not left to chance.  

Policymakers must enforce gender quotas, ensuring more women participate in decision making; institutionalise mentorship to help young health professionals ascend to leadership;  and implement practical measures to incorporate mental health equity into the Universal  Health Coverage agenda. Health equity in Nigeria can only be achieved when women are  empowered to lead health systems.