Dr Adetoun Dally, Immediate Past President of Women Community in Africa and Founder of Children Impact and Development Initiative, has urged greater autonomy for women in making critical health decisions.
She made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, stressing that women’s independence should include decisions affecting their health and lives.
Dally said women should be empowered to make informed choices about their health, especially during emergencies when delays could have serious consequences.
According to her, women should not depend entirely on others before accessing medical interventions that could save their lives.
Dally identified childbirth as a critical area where timely decisions were necessary, noting that delays could expose women to avoidable health risks.
She advocated better access to education and health information to help women understand their options and participate in decisions about their wellbeing.
The advocate said empowerment should start with the girl-child through quality education, skills acquisition and opportunities to pursue her aspirations.
She said empowered girls would grow into women capable of making informed decisions and contributing positively to their families and communities.
Dally, however, cautioned against viewing women’s empowerment as a rejection of culture and societal values.
“Culture is identity; our language, clothes and food are cultural values that cannot be done away with, but culture should not override the rights and existence of either men or women,” she said.
She stressed that women’s freedom should go hand in hand with dignity, modesty and responsible behaviour.
Dally also said women’s independence should not be seen as competition with men, but as an opportunity for women to contribute more effectively to society.
She urged stakeholders to create an environment where women could make decisions that improve their lives, pursue their ambitions and contribute to national development.
