Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation joins the United Nations in celebrating International Women’s Day under the theme DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”. This theme is aligned with the National theme and the Priority theme in the ongoing 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”- which Ipas is actively participating.
This year’s theme highlights the role of innovative technology in promoting gender equality and meeting health needs including the Sexual Reproductive Health needs of women and Girls in Nigeria.
Undoubtedly, information and Communication Technology has to some extent, provided access to information for women and girls in Nigeria, on their Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights as enshrined in most international and regional legal frameworks Nigeria is a signatory.
Ipas Nigeria through several of its projects implemented in Nigeria has provided access to digital information to women and girls, thereby contributing to ensuring preventable maternal deaths are averted.
Notwithstanding the above, there is a great need to remove the digital gender divide, mainly impacting vulnerable women and girls, including women with disabilities and those in rural and remote areas with low education and socioeconomic status, who do not have access to internet devices. It is in addressing this challenge that Nigeria will be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 5 Target 5 by the end of 2030.
We, therefore, call on stakeholders to raise awareness about the digital gender divide & advocate for policies and laws that will enable women and girls free access to quality and accurate information on their Sexual and Reproductive health & rights.
In doing these, we will ensure that disadvantaged and vulnerable women and girls also benefit equitably from digital and technological innovations for their improved Sexual Reproductive Health and well-being.
Once again, I wish all women and girls in Nigeria a happy International Women’s Day.
