Health
Nigeria’s Child Survival Story: Why Women And Girls In Science Matter
By Vivian Ihechu
Every year, the world celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Feb.11.
The day promotes full, equal access to and participation in STEM fields for women; it is important because science is better when women are involved.
Established by the United Nations (UN) in 2015, the Day highlights that in spite of progress, women constitute less than one-third of global researchers and face significant barriers in technology, Artificial Intelligence and Engineering.
So, the message from the UN is clear – we need gender equality to drive innovation.
Beyond that, the day is about more than just a calendar date. It is about saving lives, helping communities, and building a better future through leadership and facts.
In Nigeria, this isn’t just a theory as it is seen happening right now.
In clinics and small villages across the country, women scientists and health workers are turning research into real-world results.
They aren’t just reading books; they are taking action.
One of the best examples of this is the Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin (SARMAAN) in children Project, a science-driven child survival initiative rooted in evidence and delivered through people, with many of them women.
At its core, SARMAAN is driven by hard science. As a project designed to help children survive and thrive, it uses evidence to fight disease; also science needs people to make it work—and in Nigeria, those people are often women.
Women are the heartbeat of the SARMAAN project. They work as researchers, doctors, and community volunteers.
They are the ones who are analysing data to keep children safe, travelling to remote areas to deliver medicine and talking to mothers and families to build trust.
This global evidence was brought home through Nigerian-led research conducted in 2022, coordinated by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health.
The study generated critical local data, ensuring that implementation would be safe, effective, and responsive to Nigeria’s unique health context.
Reiterating, Ovuoraye said that women scientists and public health professionals are central to this process which entailed designing studies, analysing data, and shaping evidence-based decisions.
In 2023, as part of the research phase, SARMAAN expanded from pilot states to several northern states with some of the country’s highest child mortality rates.
This birthed the largest evidence-driven public health interventions in recent years.
Monitoring data from SARMAAN II implementation reports show that more than ten million children aged one month to 59 months have received Azithromycin, achieving coverage levels above 88 percent, with no serious adverse events reported.
“Behind these numbers are women on the frontlines. Female health workers screening children, administering medicines, educating caregivers, and following up in homes.
“Their work ensures that innovative medicines driven by science get to hard-to-reach areas and communities and more importantly, the children who need it the most.
Ovuoraye noted that in many communities, trust determined whether science was accepted or rejected.
“Here again, women play a decisive role.
“Female community leaders and volunteers help address concerns, counter misinformation, and build confidence in the programme.
“Their cultural understanding and accountability make science approachable and human.
“This reality was reinforced by formative research conducted in 2025 by a team of communications experts across 11 northern states,” Ovuoraye said.
Through interviews, focus group discussions, and community surveys, the study found that trusted female health workers are among the most effective voices in correcting myths and improving acceptance of SARMAAN.
These findings now inform communication strategies that strengthen community ownership of the programme.
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science also highlights the importance of scientific integrity and accountability values that guide SARMAAN’s approach to safety.
“All medicines used are clinically certified suitable and administered by trained medical personnel.
“Adverse events are reported and reviewed through national pharmacovigilance systems.’’
According to Ovuoraye, antimicrobial resistance is monitored at baseline and at regular intervals using laboratory data coordinated by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR).
These safeguards reflect global standards recommended by the World Health Organisation and are upheld by national experts, including many women scientists and public health professionals whose work ensures that innovation never compromises safety.
Beyond today’s impact, the significance of women and girls in science lies in the future they are shaping. SARMAAN stands as a real-world lesson for young girls: science can be a pathway to saving lives, strengthening communities, and leading change.
As the world commemorates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the SARMAAN Project offers more than a celebration; it offers proof.
Proof that when science is inclusive, it works. Proof that when women lead, evidence becomes impact. And proof that Nigeria’s child survival goals are best served when women and girls are not just participants in science, but co-drivers of it.
As such, when we include women in science, the science gets stronger, especially as women bring new ideas and better ways to connect with people.
By supporting girls who want to study science today, we are making sure Nigeria has the leaders it needs for tomorrow.
Science belongs to everyone; and when women lead, everyone wins. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Christiana Fadare
