The Lagos State Government has officially launched the Supporting Women’s Increased Access to Family Planning through Pharmacies and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (SWIFT) project, aimed at improving women’s access to reproductive health services and advancing their financial independence.
The project, which is being implemented by the Society for Family Health (SFH) with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is also being executed in Kaduna and Kano States. The initiative targets the reduction of maternal mortality through expanded access to modern contraceptives, particularly Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs), and increased support for women-led businesses in the health sector.
Speaking at the launch in Lagos, Director of Programs at SFH, Mrs. Jennifer Anyanti, explained that the SWIFT project leverages the wide reach of community pharmacies and patent medicine vendors (PPMVs) to ensure that women can conveniently access family planning services. According to her, “Community pharmacists and PPMVs are often the first point of contact for health services for many Nigerians, especially women. The SWIFT project is designed to strengthen their capacity to deliver quality family planning services while also promoting women’s economic empowerment.”
In Lagos, the project will involve the training of female pharmacists and medicine vendors, with a strong focus on building their capacity in both healthcare delivery and entrepreneurship. The initiative is expected to equip them with the skills needed to manage their businesses sustainably, access funding from microfinance institutions, and contribute to reducing the gender gap in business ownership.
In addition to the SWIFT project, the Lagos State Government, through the Office of the Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has launched a complementary financial inclusion programme. The initiative, which is being carried out in collaboration with Opay, Cowrywise, and Africa HCD Plus, is focused on educating women in underserved communities across 14 local government areas on financial literacy and providing them with access to digital financial services.
Special Adviser to the Governor on SDGs, Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, noted that the state is committed to empowering women as a strategic approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. “When women are financially empowered and have control over their reproductive health, families thrive, and communities become more resilient,” she said.
The government says it is targeting women in hard-to-reach areas, including informal markets and rural settlements, with both health and financial services to foster a more inclusive development process.
With maternal mortality still a major public health concern in Nigeria—where approximately 512 maternal deaths occur per 100,000 live births according to the World Bank—the SWIFT project represents a timely intervention aimed at improving reproductive health outcomes for women. By integrating family planning access with economic empowerment, the Lagos State Government and its partners are pushing toward a future where women are better positioned to make informed decisions and contribute meaningfully to the economy.
