Report January – March 2023

WORLD AIDS DAY: Nigeria has the biggest HIV epidemic in West and Central Africa despite a low prevalence rate. Women are more at risk than men (1.6% of women have HIV compared to 1% of men) in 2021. Awareness talks were given on radio, social media and to groups like prison inmates.

16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER BASED VIOLENCE: The National President of MWAN, Dr Adekemi Otolorin joined the Honourable Minister of Women’s Affairs & Social Inclusion, Dame Pauline Tallen in Abuja on December 5, 2022 to mark this event. It was well attended by women from civil organizations, non-governmental associations (NGOs) and government officials. Branches of MWAN also marked the campaign with sensitization talks given to various groups including secondary school students, especially to let women and girls know the various avenues available for protection and redress.

END OF YEAR CHILDREN S PARTY/ CELEBRATION: An area of focus in MWAN is children and the end of year is always a special time to celebrate them and for their mothers to unwind. All across the nation, MWAN branches held parties with fun-filled activities for the children. Orphanages, Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camps and homes for children with disabilities were also visited with various donations.

E.C. MEETING: The 3rdNational Executive Meeting for the 2021-2023 Biennium was held in Kano, Kano State between the 10^th and 14^th of January, 2023. The theme of the meeting was ‘Role of MWAN in the Elimination of Obstetric Fistulas in Nigeria’ with the sub theme ‘Leadership, Governance and Health’. The keynote address was given by Prof. Hadiza Galadanci, a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University Kano. A multidisciplinary medical outreach (Ophthalmology, Pediatrics, Dental and Obstetrics and Gynaecology) was also held in Tofa LGA of Kano where over 800 members of the community (including 180 children) were attended to as part of activities to mark the NEC meeting.

CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: this is held annually in January. This year’s message was; Get Informed. Get Screened and Get Vaccinated. This was the focus of activities held in different states to create awareness. Campaigns, cervical screening with appropriate referral when positive and support to a few victims were some of the activities carried out.

FEBRUARY-CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: World Cancer Day is on February 4^th and International Childhood Cancer Day on February 15^th. These were both marked by MWAN states in collaboration with other stakeholders. Webinars and Cancer walks and awareness campaigns were held on the theme ‘CLOSE THE CARE GAP’. Women and girls were offered free cervical screening, breast examination and hepatitis screening. Children being managed for cancer were also visited in some health facilities.

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR ZERO TOLERANCE TO FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (F.G.M): With the theme ‘Partnership with men and boys to transform social and gender norms to end female genital mutilation’ the Day was marked in different ways. All MWAN states made school visits to create awareness about FGM. MWAN National joined other relevant stakeholders in a programme organized by the wife the Oyo state Governor, Engr. Mrs Tamunominini Makinde to deliberate on eliminating FGM in the state.

WEBINAR: On February 15, 2023, the National Senior Members Forum, an arm of MWAN for members who are 60 years old and above organized a webinar on ‘The Burden of Osteoarthritis in The Elderly’. The speakers included an orthopedic surgeon and a physiotherapist. The webinar was well attended by people from across Nigeria and outside the country including the MWIA President, Dr Eleanor Nwadinobi. It was described by many as very educational.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY(IWD) 2023: The theme was ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality’ and the campaign theme was ‘EmbraceEquity’. The day was celebrated across the country with webinars, a talk show. One state had a workshop where girls were introduced to graphic design while some celebrated women achievers. MWAN national celebrated the day by holding a Press Conference in the morning where the National President, Dr Adekemi Otolorin identified the challenges to DigitALL and the embracing of equity in our nation. This was followed by a Women and Girls Summit in the afternoon attended by over 160 school girls in Ibadan, Oyo state. Below are links to watch both events.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DUd-HjsanQAUt25kQMt-

w_MxMaLAnAD8/view?usp=share_link (IWD Press Conference) https://www.youtube.com/live/sySqj80wwZQ?feature=share (IWD Summit)

COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMAN (CSW67): MWAN held its parallel session to mark the 67^th NGO CSW Forum on March 14^th 2023 with the theme ‘Harnessing Digital Technology for Female Empowerment.

There were four sub themes:

• Digital Technology for female empowerment of rural women and girls in Nigeria
• Surmounting the challenges of girl child education in rural areas
• Digital technology for reproductive health education for women and girls
• Stakeholder engagement to enhance use of digital technology for women and girls

The four speakers who discussed the sub themes were three members of MWAN and the first female Professor of Computer Science in Nigeria, Prof. Adenike Osofisan. The event was attended by MWIA International President, Dr Eleanor Nwadinobi.

https://www.youtube.com/live/GPgGvLsFkMs?feature=share 

WORLD ORAL HEALTH DAY 

Activities to celebrate the 2023 World Oral Health Day were held at National and State levels from 20-30^th March 2023. This included media engagement, school visits and inter-school debates to create awareness on the importance of oral hygiene.

A very busy quarter as usual. We give all glory to God!
Best Regards,
Dr. Gbemisola Daramola

MWAN National Coordinator/National Secretary