Founder of the Vickyheldan Empowerment Foundation, Dr. Victory Njoku, has advocated a continental alliance to tackle maternal mortality and mental health challenges.
Njoku also canvassed collaboration between governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), healthcare institutions, and development partners to address the growing healthcare challenges facing women across Africa.
Njoku, during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday to unveil the Her Health, Her Power Conference Africa 2026, scheduled for August 20, said governments alone cannot effectively tackle the continent’s healthcare challenges, particularly those affecting women in rural and underserved communities.
The conference, themed: “Leading with Wellness for a Sustainable Africa,” aims to bring together policymakers, healthcare professionals, development partners, corporate leaders, researchers, and advocates to develop practical solutions to pressing health issues facing women and girls across the continent.
“It is quite unfortunate that we are where we are today when it comes to healthcare in Africa. The government cannot do it alone. That is why we are calling on partners and NGOs to come together and create a synergistic relationship that will drive growth and increase awareness, especially regarding women’s health,” she said.
Njoku explained that maternal and reproductive healthcare would feature prominently at the conference through dedicated panel discussions and strategic planning sessions aimed at developing sustainable interventions.
“This is not just a conference where people come together to talk. There is already too much talking. What we are doing is creating an action plan. Behind the scenes, we have been reaching out to women in rural communities and exploring partnerships with healthcare facilities and hospitals to strengthen healthcare delivery,” she added.
Njoku noted that the conference would also focus on expanding access to healthcare services in underserved communities through outreach programmes before and after the event.
She noted that empowering women with health information remains critical to improving health outcomes across the continent.
“If we continue to create awareness and drive the message home, we will empower more women, especially those in underserved communities, with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their health,” she said.
The health advocate expressed concern over Africa’s high maternal mortality rate and urged governments to work more closely with NGOs that often have direct access to vulnerable communities.
“Many NGOs are already working in communities where government agencies struggle to reach. They have the data, the relationships, and the understanding of the challenges people face. Collaboration is essential if we want to make meaningful progress,” she stated.
Beyond maternal health, Dr. Njoku highlighted mental health as a critical but often overlooked issue affecting women across the continent.
She said the conference would feature medical specialists and mental health professionals who will address issues such as emotional wellbeing, stress management, domestic violence, and other factors impacting women’s overall health.
“There is a lot going on with women that we do not discuss enough. Mental wellness is very important. Many women are stressed and exhausted, yet society still expects them to keep showing up. These are issues we must address if we are serious about improving women’s health,” she said.
Dr. Njoku also called on policymakers, legislators, and stakeholders to support initiatives that prioritize healthcare and wellness, expressing optimism that sustained advocacy would eventually lead to policy reforms and legislation that strengthen healthcare systems.
