(MWAN) ‘Women in govt should mentor younger ones’

The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) is a non-governmental, non-sectarian, non-political and non-profit making organisation that provides a forum where women doctors and dentists discuss and implement programmes aimed at improving health, especially  those of women and children. The president-elect, Dr. Valerie Obot, speaks on salient issues including predicament facing the girl-child in Nigeria.
As the president elect of  MWAN, what should we expect from your two-year tenure ?
I feel greatly honoured, humbled, excited and grateful to God for making me the incoming 19th national president of this  association, the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN). For this biennium, in addition to the usual activities carried out by MWAN aimed at promoting women and children’s health, we would be focusing more on the girl-child, specifically in the area of giving them a voice and raising opportunities for their empowerment, health and education.

How would you  rate  the average Nigerian woman in terms of medical/academic achievements?
Let me say that even though women are a minority in the medical field, they have done exceedingly well in their chosen specialties. Women doctors have joined men in specialising in subsets of medicine hitherto seen as dominated by men, particularly in surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics. And for this, I rate the Nigerian woman very high, regardless of their area of specialisation. We are going places and will only achieve greater heights, given the necessary support and opportunities.
Recently, the country passed through an ugly path pertaining to the girl-child and early marriage.
As a medical practitioner, tell us the medical implications for girls who are married off early.
Child marriage defined as marriage of a child less than 18 years of age is a human rights violation. It has far reaching health, economic and political implications for the girl and her community. Child marriage prevents the girl from having education, enjoying optimal health, bonding with others of her age, maturing and ultimately choosing her own life partner. Though the health implications are too numerous, I will mention a few. They include an increased risk for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, which is heightened because their organs are not well lined with protective cells leading to hymenal, vaginal, or cervical lacerations. Others are cervical cancer, malaria in pregnancy (studies show that malaria parasite density is significantly higher in pregnant girls less than 19 years than in pregnant women older than 19 years), maternal death during child birth, abortions and obstetric fistulas. Their children are at an increased risk of premature birth and death, the girls are also at a higher risk of having mental health problems including post-partum depression and psychosis that require medication and so on. In summary, I will say these are children bearing children and children delivering children and these processes have profound effects on the girls.

What is your mission statement for your tenure?
The mission of MWAN is committed to the advancement of health and welfare through the improvement of professional development and well-being of its members to influence women and the community’s health. Furthermore, we endeavour to promote the role of women in the achievement and maintenance of health throughout Nigeria. We enhance personal and professional development of present and future physicians and dentists as well as serve as professional partners to individuals and organisations in project related to health concerns. The overall vision of the association is to empower female physicians and dentists to promote women and community health through advancing educational and health development processes. In my two-year  tenure, my focus will be on the girl-child, to give them a voice and raise opportunities for their empowerment, health and education. The theme of my biennium is REACH-G (R- Raising opportunities for E- Empowerment A- And C-Creating H- Health for the G-Girl-child)

Would you say international funding for the medical field and grants for female practitioners is good enough for women in developing countries?
I will say that international funding or grants in the medical field is inadequate for female practitioners and when available, access is a challenge in the developing countries. It is important for our government and establishments to also offer female practitioners grants, especially for research.

What should the  government do to strengthen the profession and empower its practitioners, especially women?
I will first commend  the government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan for already empowering  Nigerian women as seen in their appointments  into key offices. To strengthen the medical field and empower  women practitioners, I will like to see our government formulate, implement and strengthen more gender-friendly policies in the workplace. There should also be training for health managers on gender mainstreaming.

How would you assess the government of your state, Akwa Ibom, in the area of health and women empowerment?
 As the saying goes, ‘seeing is believing’. All you need to do is to visit and see a state that has been  transformed and placed on the world map as a destination state in Nigeria. In the health sector, Governor Akpabio has not only offered free health services to children under age  five, pregnant women and the aged, he has also constructed, renovated and equipped most hospitals in the state. Worthy of note is the 20th anniversary hospital which, when commissioned, will bring medical tourism to the state. Medical doctors (including MWAN members) have also been given an improved welfare package. In the area of empowering women, I will say our governor is very gender friendly as we have a female deputy governor, a female chief judge, a female head of service and many more in key positions in the state. It is no wonder that citizens of the state are toeing his line of achievements in their fields of endeavour. We have been given a high morale boost and this is highly commendable. We have never had it so good in the state.

At what point  while growing up did you decide to become a medical doctor?
As a child, I got sick and my mother took me to Iquita General Hospital, Oron.  My uncle, Dr Eyokunyi Isong, was then working there. He  attended to me and I got well and started playing  to the amazement of my family members who thought I was going to die. Then I said to myself  ‘this is magic’, I must possess the knowledge. As I grew up, I made enquiries on how to go about acquiring this knowledge. And here I am today, a medical woman! I give God  all the glory.

How do you juggle being a professional, a wife and a mother and still have  time for yourself ?
It’s not easy at all. Do I really have  time enough for myself? I can’t really tell for now. I just want to say that I thank God for giving me an understanding husband and loving children. Then again, women naturally multi-task, so I guess it comes with being a woman that we just cope. A loving and understanding family to support you is the icing on the cake.

What is your advice to women, especially those in government and in high-profile careers?
My advice  is to  ensure that they represent us well, leave their marks in the sands of time, encourage other women and continue to mentor the younger ones in order to have successful successors. Finally, I will like to say to women that everything is achievable, we just have to be determined.