Africa has taken a bold step to tackle one of its most neglected health issues, particularly in women – uterine health. At the historic launch of the Uterine Health Fund (UHF) in Freetown, leaders, health experts, and advocates united to change the future for millions of women and girls.
Honourable Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, Rivers State Commissioner for Health, called the move “a watershed moment for transforming women’s health in Africa.” She stressed that women must no longer be valued only by their ability to have children.
“A woman’s worth must not be regarded as valuable only to the extent of her baby-carrying capacity,” Dr. Oreh declared.
She explained that conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, painful menstruation, and abnormal bleeding have been ignored for too long, leaving millions of African women to suffer in silence. Research shows that up to 80% of Black women will develop fibroids in their lifetime, with Nigeria recording rates as high as 45.1%.
According to Dr. Oreh, ignorance, stigma, and poverty have pushed many women to seek help from prayer houses and herbalists, often leading to severe complications and death.
In her remarks, she shared how Rivers State, under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is already pushing reforms to give women better access to care, including expanding reproductive health services, introducing ultrasound scans and mental health support in primary health centres, revitalizing emergency medical services, upgrading hospitals, and strengthening referral systems for complex cases.
Dr. Oreh praised Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, for championing the cause, describing her as “fierce and unapologetic in advancing the health of African women and girls.”
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The launch of the UHF is more than a medical milestone – it is a continental movement. As Dr. Oreh concluded:
“This is not just an event; it is a call to action. Together, we can rise to the challenge before us and build a healthier future for our women and girls.”
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