WOMEN AGAINST WOMEN; THE BANE OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN NIGERIA by Dr Noimot Balogun

It is no more a hidden fact that women empowerment is a reliable measure of sustainable development and good governance in any given Nation. In line with global agitations, the rights of women in the different settings of life has been clamored for several decades, with activists identifying and proffering solutions to the different strategies that can help mitigate the plight of women and improve their access to basic life amenities like health, development and financial capital. With the recent adoption of the new sustainable development goals (SDGs) which is premised on the sole principle of ‘Leaving No One Behind”, the call for women empowerment has become a major factor in economic and developmental discussions thus increasingly coming to the center space of countries’ competitiveness in the global economy.

The situation is no different in developing countries like Nigeria, a country with vast human and physical resources which can rise up to the task of successful empowerment of women empowerment with the right planning and implementation. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of women in developing countries like Nigeria, are still saddled with poor standard of living due to lack of access to basic social amenities despite the preponderance of women empowerment initiatives. Interestingly, experts have identified the different barriers affecting women empowerment in Nigeria, many of which have been blamed on the male dominated mentality and societal norms that make up the ethnicity of Nigeria, one of which has been cited for the recent debate on promotion of women empowerment bill at the National Assembly. However, while I agree that that advocating for gender equality or equity is a viable option, I am genuinely concerned about a section of stakeholders who have been largely misconstrued to be the victims rather than equal perpetrators in the prevention of sustainable empowerment of women in Nigeria; this complex group of stakeholders are the women themselves, who whether actively or passively have contributed more than ever in promoting or quashing women’s dreams in the different areas of life, and I make bold to say this with different case studies.

“I had waited to board the Lagos buses generally referred to as ‘Danfo” in Surulere along with other prospective commuters. When the next empty bus eventually came to where we were waiting, I was amused and excited at the same time to see that the driver of the bus was a woman in her 50s. The 1st impression I had was that of admiration as I sat down to be driven by a woman whom I believed had defied all odds to work in a male dominated environment, and how much more, she was relatively an elderly person, a plus in a country like Nigeria where people have turned to different cadres of beggars in the name of poverty.

The journey started well until it was time for the commuters to send their fare to the woman who did not have a conductor to assist. It was however surprising when the woman raised concern on one person not paying based on the total amount with her; after much questioning, we found out that a lady who had been oblivious of what had been happening because of her earphones was the one responsible for the imbalance in the fares, and as such, the woman in the tensed mood asked for her money wondering why the lady didn’t pay while the others were paying. In defiance, this lady hissed and retorted with a statement that threw women promoters like me off total balance. “Please take your money, don’t go and look for a conductor instead of trying to prove that you can do what only men can do”. Of course, I couldn’t be more dejected when I saw men in the bus trying to educate the lady on why she should encourage this elderly woman who had chosen to remain empowered in the midst of difficulties, all to no avail, the lady would not change her position”.

I left the bus with the total opposite to the initial excitement I felt while entering as I thought about it all; Women against women- the bane of women empowerment in my country.

Reflecting on the situation, a critical look at the different lives of the feminine gender is a testimony to the fact that so many women’s dreams wouldn’t have been quashed just if the balance between envy and appreciation innate in womenfolk themselves has been well positioned. One of such positive stories is the amazing but true story of Olajumoke who was propelled into National and International fame by TY Bello. Imagine if TY Bello had allowed envy to outweigh her appreciation for nature; she would have been annoyed that a common bread seller would look so fine just like a model, but she didn’t, and we all know the result of that singular appreciation of innate beauty. Imagine if a lot of women who are in position in Nigeria today made that extra effort for another woman, it means by the next decade, women vulnerability will be a thing of the past; just if women decided not to be against their fellow women.

As a Public health personnel in the NGO sector, this menace has also reared its ugly head, where mentors who are supposed to help showcase your talents are the very people that will feel intimidated when your work and activities are receiving accolades from notable networks. That may also explain why some women would hide their post graduate endeavors from their bosses, who they believe would not be happy to see them grow up the academic ladder. More observed is the number of women that have had to resign from their jobs due to the growing conflict between satisfying their families and non-concerned female bosses. Although, these are experiences that have been seen in men and women alike, it is expected that when the human relationships is among women, it should be more of supportive and educative rather than discouraging but sadly, this is not the case.

Therefore, in view of the continuous clamor for the bill for women empowerment in Nigeria, I strongly recommend that we start to re-evaluate the stakeholders involved at the different levels; International, National, State, and community levels and examine the holistic contribution of these different stakeholders to the successful establishment of sustainable development through women. More importantly, for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved, there should be identification and deliberation on strategies to engage the different levels of women while engaging them towards a genuine love for women’s growth and empowerment. That way, engaging the male counterparts as a unified voice may better yield the desired results.

This is a clarion call towards being at par with globally aspiring countries; Hilary Clinton of the democratic party in the United States of America just secured her enviable position as the democratic candidate, our dear Sarah Jibril could not even get another vote for her PDP presidential primaries some years back in our dear country with so many women activists. If indeed we are serious about women empowerment, then it is time that the women folk examined herself and chart a new song of unity.

The Right to Health is Human Right.

The human right to health means that everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, which includes access to all medical services, sanitation, adequate food, decent housing, healthy working conditions, and a clean environment.

What this means is;

The human right to health guarantees a system of health protection for all.

Everyone has the right to the health care they need, and to living conditions that enable them to be healthy, such as adequate food, housing, and a healthy environment.

Health care must be provided as a public good for all, financed publicly and equitably.

The human right to health care means that hospitals, clinics, medicines, and doctors’ services must be accessible, available, acceptable, and of good quality for everyone, on an equitable basis, where and when needed irrespective of location, level of education and socioeconomic status.

 The design of a health care system must be guided by the following key human rights standards and components:

1.     The Right to Appropriate Health Care

The right to healthcare requires the establishment of health facilities, goods and services such as hospitals, doctors and drugs that are of good quality and available to all on an equal basis. These services must be affordable to everyone, the dignity of the people and their diverse needs must be respected and operations must be transparent. And these facilities must provide preventive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative health services, including regular screening programs, appropriate treatment of prevalent diseases and illnesses, injuries, both physical and mental and all necessary medications. Health care institutions and providers in other words must respect dignity, provide culturally appropriate care, be responsive to needs based on gender, age, culture, language, and different ways of life and abilities. They must respect medical ethics and protect confidentiality.

2.     The Right to an Adequate Supply of Water, Food, Nutrition and Housing.

The right to health requires equal access for all underlying determinants of health, such as an adequate supply of food and proper nutrition, safe and potable water, basic sanitation and adequate housing and living conditions. These amenities are not privileges but basic human rights.

3.     The Right to a Healthy Environment and Healthy Working Conditions.

The right to a healthy environment requires ‘’the prevention and reduction of the population’s exposure to harmful substances… or other detrimental environmental conditions that directly or indirectly impact upon human health’’, including the pollution of air, water and soil. The right to safe and healthy working conditions requires the establishment of ‘‘preventive measures in respect of occupational accidents and diseases’’, as well as the minimization of the ‘’causes of health hazards inherent in the working environment’’.

4.     The Right to Maternal, Child and Reproductive Health

The right to health requires special provisions for improving child and maternal health, sexual and reproductive health services as well as the treatment of diseases affecting women, reduction of women’s health risks and protection of women from domestic violence.

5.     The Right to participate in Health-Related Decision-Making.

The Right to health requires the promotion of effective community participation in ‘’setting priorities, making decisions, planning, implementing and evaluating strategies to achieve better health’’.This includes participation in the ‘’provision of preventive health services, such as the organization of the health sector, the insurance system and in particular, participation in political decisions relating to the right to health taken at both the community and national levels’’. Therefore Individuals and communities must be able to take an active role in decisions that affect their health, including in the organization and implementation of health care services.

6.     The Right to Access Health-Related Information.

The Right to access health-related information requires  ‘’the promotion of medical research and health education, as well as information campaigns, in particular with respect to HIV/AIDS and [other sexually transmitted diseases], sexual and reproductive health, traditional practices, domestic violence, the abuse of alcohol and the use of cigarettes, drugs and other harmful substances’’  Health information must be easily accessible for everyone, enabling people to protect their health and claim quality health services. Institutions that organize, finance or deliver health care must operate in a transparent way.

Health Inequality is so unfair and should never have been the case. If the Government of Nigeria beginning with the Federal Ministry of Health takes these rights and components as a goal, Nigeria and all the Nigerian people will experience equity in health irrespective of their socioeconomic status and geographical location. And these should be a huge awakening for Nigerians to their basic right to health.

                                                                                                Uc -Okonmah

References

·       Morbidity and Mortality Weekly, April 27, 2007/56[16];393-397

·       Nutrition Assessment; A Comprehensive Guide for Planning Intervention, 2^nd ed.Margaret D.Simko, Catherine Cowell, Judith A.Gilbride, An Aspen Publication, 2000