Group Enlightens Abuja Women On Health, Marital Conflicts

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from ActionAid Nigeria has trained 30 vulnerable women in Kaida Tsoho community, Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in health awareness, marital conflicts and economic empowerment.

The three-day women’s peer education training was organised to equip the participants with practical knowledge to make informed decisions about their health, livelihoods and family relationships.

The training followed concerns raised by women in the community over financial hardship, marital disputes and limited economic opportunities, which they said were affecting their health, family stability and overall well-being.

During the programme in Abuja yesterday, CITAD programme officer, Yesmin Salako, said strengthening women’s knowledge, economic capacity and community support systems was essential to improving their welfare and helping them make informed decisions about their lives and families.
Discussions during the training focused on the emotional effects of persistent marital disagreements, separation and divorce on children, particularly when family breakdown disrupts their care and stability.

One of the participants, Adamu Aisha, called for guidance on resolving marital disputes, warning that frequent quarrels between parents could negatively affect the emotional well-being of their children.

Participants also examined the relationship between financial hardship and sexual exploitation, including the risk of exposure to sexually transmitted infections such as HIV.

Another participant, Hussiena Bashir, observed that some women might resort to transactional sex to obtain financial assistance when their husbands were unable to meet household needs, exposing them to potential health risks.

The women were also sensitised to the dangers of sharing contaminated sharp objects and medical equipment, including razor blades and injection needles, which could facilitate the transmission of infections.

The Local Rights Programme Adviser of ActionAid Nigeria, Hajara Adamu, said the organisation was providing technical support and capacity-building to help women improve their livelihoods, understand their rights and participate more actively in decision-making.

She explained that the participants would be linked to existing community structures, including women’s groups and Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), to sustain peer learning and mutual support beyond the training.

According to her, the women would also be encouraged to share the knowledge acquired with other members of their community to expand the initiative’s reach and impact.

Adamu identified limited economic opportunities, inadequate access to livelihood skills and resources, low participation in household and community decision-making, and weak support networks as challenges the initiative seeks to address.

She said strengthening community-based support systems and improving women’s access to relevant knowledge and economic opportunities would help them make informed choices, improve their livelihoods and contribute more effectively to their families and communities.