Reproductive health care helps women affected by conflict

Nigeria | 2024 | CBPF

Nigeria, Adamawa state. Uwani was worried when she found out she was pregnant with twins. “I always suffered during my previous pregnancies,” she explained. A friend advised her to visit the women’s safe space – Dakin Kwanciyan Hankali – at Fufore camp.

The humanitarian crisis in north-east Nigeria remains dire, with women and girls the worst affected. Across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states, over 7.9 million people face severe food insecurity, protection concerns, extreme deprivation beyond existing poverty levels, and daily threats to their well-being.

As in other conflict settings, the chaos and uncertainty of displacement leads to sexual violence and more risk for women and girls.

The Nigeria Humanitarian Fund supported women’s safe spaces for women and girls living in displacement, in partnership with UNFPA.

Uwani attended learning sessions at the safe space, which provided information on the benefits of spacing children, and other health advice. After she gave birth to her twins, she opted for a three-year contraceptive implant, so that she could decide the next time she would be pregnant.

“Before this, I was pregnant almost every year. My encounter with UNFPA gave me peace of mind,” she said.

The safe space also offers life-skills training. Uwani learned some new skills like soap making to earn some extra money. Perhaps more important, she shares the information about women’s health that she learned.

“At weddings, naming ceremonies, or when we are fetching water, I talk to women about child spacing and giving birth at the hospital because I know how important it is. I also encourage my fellow women to learn a particular skill so that they can be empowered and help their husbands,” Uwani said.

Original stories from OCHA https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/journey-safe-motherhood-uwanis-story

For more information: visit the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund web site, and for real-time contribution and allocation data go to the Pooled Funds Data Hub.