A non-governmental organisation, Youterus Health, in collaboration with White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria, has revealed that 45.1 per cent of Nigerian women suffer from uterine fibroids, according to recent studies.
The disclosure was made during a stakeholders’ engagement and media interaction focused on prioritising women’s menstrual and reproductive health through evidence-based research and policy leadership. The event was held on 25 February 2026 at the conference hall of the Niger State Ministry of Health in Minna.
Earlier, Dr Fatou Wurie, CEO of Youterus Health, alongside Chief Tonte Ibraye, highlighted that Nigerian women tend to develop fibroids at a younger age compared to women in Western countries. She noted that while the average age range in Western populations is between 40 and 46 years, Nigerian women often develop fibroids much earlier, between 35 and 37 years.
Dr Wurie further disclosed that 57.4 per cent of Nigerian adolescent girls experience heavy menstrual bleeding, adding that the average delay between the onset of symptoms and seeking medical care exceeds 20 years.
She lamented the absence of a national screening programme, patient registries to track outcomes, and dedicated research funding for uterine health in Nigeria, stressing that women’s health remains under-prioritised, under-researched, and under-measured.
“When women’s health needs are not captured in data generated by Nigerians, women’s needs end up being excluded from policy planning, budget decisions, and service delivery. Strong government leadership, supported by locally generated evidence and strategic partnerships, is essential to changing this reality,” she said.
Speaking to journalists, the Commissioner for Health in Niger State, Murtala Mohammad Bagana, decried what he described as years of inadequate attention to women’s health by policymakers and government institutions.
Dr Bagana said the research conducted by White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria would help policymakers better understand and address long-standing health challenges faced by women.
“Niger State will be part of the entire exercise of White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria. As commissioner, along with my team, we want to be involved in the field research because we are the ones who will ultimately implement the findings,” he said.
He added that the state would advocate for the adoption of the research findings at the National Council on Health meeting scheduled for November 2026, promising to champion discussions on the outcome of the study.
Dr Bagana commended the organisation for engaging with the state and for raising awareness about women’s reproductive health challenges. Officials from the Ministry of Health and the Niger State Primary Health Care Agency attended the stakeholders’ engagement.
