Health
LAGOS First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has called for affordable and accessible healthcare technology to improve service delivery and address longstanding challenges in the health sector.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by Dr Temitope Bakare, Medical Director, Orile-Agege General Hospital, made the call at the 2026 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Lagos State Branch.
The event with the theme “Woman Physicians at the Forefront of Health Equity: Advancing Women, Children and Community Health”, took place on Wednesday, in Ikeja.
She said innovations such as telemedicine, digital health records, artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostics and remote patient monitoring offered opportunities to improve healthcare delivery.
“Technological advancement must be accompanied by affordability, accessibility and adequate infrastructure,” she said.
Sanwo-Olu urged MWAN to sustain advocacy for improved maternal and child healthcare, strengthen mentorship for younger female physicians and promote community-level health education.
She also emphasised compassion and empathy in medical practice, urging women physicians to break barriers, advance medical knowledge and inspire the next generation of female medical professionals.
Dr Dayo Lajide, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, commended the leadership of the association for its energy and commitment in bringing people together for the activities of the association.
“It is really great to see women in the forefront. We’re shaking tables, we’re moving, we’re raising the bar, we’re doing things differently,” she said.
Lajide expressed encouragement at the involvement of younger doctors, particularly their mentorship, recognition and active participation in the association’s activities.
Delivering her presidential address, Dr Ime Okon, President of the association, called on female physicians to advocate equitable healthcare access for women and children.
Okon said emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, telemedicine and digital health platforms, offered opportunities to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
“Technology must complement, not replace the human touch in medicine. Innovation is only meaningful when it is accessible, affordable and inclusive,” she said.
She urged members to acquire new skills, build strategic partnerships and contribute actively to transforming healthcare delivery.
Okon said the association remained committed to mentorship, professional development, advocacy, members’ welfare and leadership development.
She urged members to share knowledge, embrace innovation and translate conference deliberations into practical interventions to improve health outcomes.
In her keynote address, Prof. Kikelomo Wright, Professor of Community Medicine and Public Health, Lagos State University, said Nigeria’s maternal and child mortality rates remained unacceptably high.
She said that about 75,000 Nigerian women died from pregnancy and childbirth complications in 2023, representing one maternal death every seven minutes.
Wright said Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio stood at 993 deaths per 100,000 live births, five times the global average and far above the SDG target of 70.
“Most of these deaths, as we know, are likely to be preventable deaths,” she said, identifying obstetric haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, abortion-related complications and ruptured uterus as major causes.
She said that Lagos also recorded high maternal mortality, with a recent study covering all 20 local government areas putting the figure at 833 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Wright said Nigeria’s under-five mortality rate stood at 110 deaths per 1,000 live births, against the Sustainable Development Goal target of 25.
She urged women physicians to take leadership positions in healthcare decision-making, research, advocacy and policy formulation to address inequalities affecting women, children and underserved communities.
“Health is your right. It is not a privilege, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is not a privilege based on your postcode, or based on your purse,” she said.
She advocated adopting underserved communities, strengthening primary healthcare, improving health insurance, promoting clean cooking technologies and using digital platforms to track pregnant women and prevent avoidable deaths.
In his goodwill message, Prof. Kehinde Okunade, Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State, represented by Dr Moruf Abdulsalam, First Vice-Chairman, commended the association’s leadership for promoting women physicians and health equity.
He said women physicians played vital roles in identifying healthcare gaps, addressing the needs of vulnerable populations and improving community health.
“We remain committed to standing with everyone to support all advocacy, to amplify your voice, and to work with you to build a health system where no woman, no child, and no community is left behind,” he said.
He wished participants a successful and impactful conference, urging them to translate discussions into actions for patients and the country.
Also, Prof. Ibironke Akinsete, Chairman, Past Presidents Forum, MWAN, congratulated the association on its growth, recalling that its early meetings attracted few members.
She expressed delight at seeing many young, energetic doctors and commended the association’s efforts to place MWAN at the forefront.
Akinsete urged members to remain energised, strive for greater heights and never give up, saying the association should not dwell on past achievements.
In her welcome address, Dr Mazeedat Erinosho, Chairperson, Local Organising Committee, 2026 MWAN AGM, said the conference underscored women physicians’ role in advancing equitable healthcare.
She identified maternal mortality, preventable childhood illnesses, inadequate healthcare access, financial barriers and disparities in infrastructure as major concerns affecting women and children.
Erinosho urged women physicians to promote accessible, evidence-based and affordable health innovations, strengthen leadership, research and advocacy, and collaborate to improve healthcare outcomes.(NAN)
A.I
Nov. 11, 2026
Tags: Dr Dayo Lajide Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu Dr Ime Okon Dr Mazeedat Erinosho Dr Temitope Bakare