Every day in Lagos and Ogun States, marginalized women are being left behind by the healthcare system — women whose lives matter just as much as anyone else's.  

Sexual minority women. Female sex workers. Women who use drugs. Women living with HIV'/TB/Malaria. Adolescent and young women, Women in Hard-to-Reach areas.

These women face double, even triple — layers of discrimination. Every day, they are pushed to the margins, facing judgment when they seek care, or being denied it outright. Healthcare, which should be a safe place, often becomes another site of stigma and exclusion.

The numbers tell a heartbreaking story:  

- In Lagos alone, an estimated “120,000 people are living with HIV**, while Ogun State counts around 46,000” and many still don't have access to the treatment they need.  

- ⁠Across Southwest Nigeria, including Lagos and Ogun, “female sex workers face an HIV prevalence of around 14%”, a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities they face daily.  

- ⁠Among people who inject drugs in Lagos, “9% are living with HIV” and women who inject are even more at risk.  

- ⁠Drug use is rising fast across the Southwest. In Lagos and Ogun, thousands of young women between “15–35 years old” are using drugs, yet harm reduction services barely reach them.

Behind these numbers are real human lives: marginalized women struggling to access contraception, safe abortion care, HIV treatment, mental health services — and being turned away because of who they are or what society labels them.

We're raising our voices to demand a healthcare system where every woman no matter her gender identity, sexuality, profession, or health status can get the care she needs without fear, shame, or discrimination.

Because healthcare should be for everyone. No exceptions.

Right now, Lagos and Ogun States have an opportunity to lead by example.  

We’re calling on the Ministries of Health to:  

- Revise healthcare policies so they explicitly include trans women, LBQ women, female sex workers, women who use/inject drugs, and women living with HIV.  

- Train healthcare workers to treat every woman with dignity and respect.  

- ⁠Create safe, welcoming spaces where no one is judged or turned away.  

- Listen to the voices of marginalized women and make them part of shaping the future of healthcare.

🚨 This isn’t just about policies — it’s about saving lives.  

🚨 It's about building a healthcare system that leaves no one behind.

📢 Join us. Stand with us. Speak out for healthcare that includes everyone.