Women,Girls Still Struggle to Access Health Care in Nigeria — GEM
As Nigeria marks Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day 2025, new findings indicate that adolescent girls and young women continue to face significant barriers to accessing basic health services, despite years of policy commitments aimed at expanding coverage.
The assessment, released by the Gem Hub Initiative, identifies rising out-of-pocket costs, weak primary healthcare capacity, and limited youth-focused services as key obstacles preventing young people—particularly females—from obtaining timely, confidential, and appropriate care.
Nigeria has committed to achieving universal health coverage, with the goal of ensuring that all citizens can access essential health services without financial hardship.
However, the report notes that progress remains uneven, with adolescents among the least served populations within the health system.
According to Gem Hub, many young women are unable to afford services such as testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, particularly those who are not enrolled in health insurance schemes.
This financial burden often leads to delayed care or complete avoidance of health services, thereby increasing health risks.
The findings are drawn from a rapid assessment of youth-friendly health services and a perception survey conducted in Rivers State.
The organisation notes that these challenges mirror those observed in other parts of the country. The assessment found that several primary health facilities lacked essential sexual and reproductive health commodities, including emergency contraception. It also highlighted shortages of trained personnel and inconsistent implementation of youth-friendly service guidelines.
Infrastructure-related challenges emerged as another recurring concern. Poor road networks, seasonal flooding, irregular clinic hours, and unreliable electricity supply were cited as factors limiting physical access to care, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach communities.
The report further points to low levels of community and parental engagement, which can discourage adolescents—many of whom rely on family members for health-related decisions from seeking services.
A frontline health worker interviewed during the assessment said many young women were reluctant to return to facilities where they felt judged or where their privacy was not respected. “When adolescents feel exposed or uncomfortable, they simply stop coming,” the provider said.
Universal Health Coverage Day is observed globally to highlight the importance of affordable and accessible healthcare for all. This year’s theme focuses on the burden of health costs—a challenge that remains particularly acute in Nigeria, where out-of-pocket spending continues to account for a large share of healthcare financing.
The Gem Hub Initiative says its findings underscore the persistent gap between national health policies and the lived realities of young people, especially girls and young women whose health needs are often marginalised within the broader health system.
The organisation works with adolescents and young adults across Nigeria on health, education, and empowerment programmes, with a focus on generating evidence to inform public debate and influence policy.
