The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on SDGs, Oreoluwa Finnih, has said women’s health is inherently tied to the economic potential and overall societal progress.

Delivering her goodwill message at SocialGood Lagos 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Activation themed Bridging the Gap Between Women’s Health and Economic Empowerment, Finnih, represented by Yemisi Akingbade, stated: “As we strive to improve access to healthcare, economic opportunities, it is equally important to recognise that women’s health and economic performance are deeply intertwined.

“By investing in both, you can unlock the full potential across sectors. We will find out that over the years.”

Founder, SocialGood Lagos, Abraham Ologundudu, said the event was organised as part of efforts to key into global conversation about women in politics and other sectors, especially with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly.

He said the conversations around ‘activate SDG5’ delves into the initiatives, policies, and partnerships needed to transform Nigeria’s development landscape, with a focus on the implementation of UN’s sustainable development goals.

“Health is wealth, and an empowered woman should be a healthy woman. It is only an empowered woman who will have that opportunity to access healthcare when the challenges arise,” Fabia Ogunmekan, gender and development consultant, said.

She said a woman’s health is critical to national issue that should be topmost on everyone’s interest as a family issue.

According to her, woman’s health is a community and societal issue, and that a healthy, economically productive woman is a good nation builder.

During a panel discussion, Medical Director, Lakeshore Cancer Centre, Oge Ilegbune, said that the chronicity of a woman’s illness or health can affect her earning power and the ability to train children who can break the poverty circle.

According to her, lack of economic power is not just a grassroots challenge because some educated women are also not empowered.

Ilegbune, who is also a family physician, said that there is a correlation to women’s health and economic empowerment.

She said further that the better a woman’s health is, the more energised she becomes in engaging in economic activities.