LAGOS UNVEILS SWIFT PROJECT TO ADVANCE WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
In a significant stride toward improving women’s health and economic inclusion, the Lagos State Government has officially launched the SWIFT Project — a transformative initiative aimed at integrating reproductive health services with digital innovation and economic empowerment for women, particularly in underserved communities.
The project, launched on Tuesday, May 14, 2025, at the Radisson Hotel in Ikeja, is a collaborative effort between the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the Society for Family Health (SFH), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. SWIFT, an acronym that stands for *Strengthening Women’s Initiatives for Family Planning and Technology* or *Supporting Women’s Improved Financial Transformation*, seeks to redefine access to family planning through community-based service delivery and female-led enterprise.
Declaring the project inaugurated, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, represented by Dr. Folashade Oludara, Director of Family Health and Nutrition, described SWIFT as a timely response to long-standing barriers—such as distance, cost, and stigma—that hinder women’s access to modern contraceptives. She emphasized that by utilizing local pharmacies and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs), SWIFT ensures that essential care reaches the grassroots.
“The Lagos State Government strongly supports integrating trained and regulated non-traditional providers into our reproductive health system,” she stated. “This initiative aligns with our THEMES+ agenda and vision for Universal Health Coverage.”
Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, lauded the project as a development catalyst, underscoring that family planning is not only a health issue but a tool for poverty reduction and gender equity. He highlighted that the project builds on the previous *IntegratE* program, which trained over 1,200 PPMVs and pharmacists, and reached more than 310,000 women with family planning services.
“SWIFT will deepen our reach and strengthen the capacity of our primary healthcare delivery at the community level,” he said.
SFH’s Deputy Director for Program Delivery, Pharm. Kene Eruchalu, noted that Lagos represents the final rollout phase of SWIFT, following successful launches in Kano and Kaduna. He emphasized the importance of trust in healthcare, highlighting that many women prefer accessing family planning services through female providers. “This project is about access, trust, and economic transformation,” he said. “We’re empowering women not only to deliver services but to become health entrepreneurs.”
Project Manager Ummi Rahama-Shehu presented the long-term vision for SWIFT, which is funded by the Gates Foundation over a three-year period. She explained that the initiative is designed around a social enterprise model that targets both healthcare impact and women’s financial inclusion. The project will support PPMVs and pharmacies with investment readiness, technology-driven market access, and the formation of women-led clusters to promote sustainable, equitable healthcare delivery.
Representing the Gates Foundation, State Consultant Mr. Olukunle Daramola praised the Lagos State Government’s leadership and emphasized that SWIFT’s rollout in Lagos reflects its priority status in the Foundation’s national health strategy. He reiterated the project’s role in empowering community-based female health providers to bridge healthcare gaps and promote voluntary family planning.
Dr. Cecelia Mabogunje, Permanent Secretary of Lagos Health District VI, delivered a goodwill message, describing family planning as critical to maternal and child health. She praised the project’s focus on female-led healthcare delivery and pledged the state government’s continued collaboration to ensure successful implementation.
Also speaking, Dr. Taiwo Filusi, Zonal Director of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, applauded the project’s compliance with regulatory standards. He noted that many PPMVs are women who serve as vital healthcare access points in their communities. “By focusing on registered and trained providers, SWIFT sets a benchmark for responsible donor engagement and effective service delivery,” he stated.
As Lagos takes the lead in the implementation of the SWIFT Project, it sets a precedent for leveraging local solutions to address national challenges in reproductive health, gender empowerment, and economic resilience. The project’s rollout is expected to create ripple effects across Nigeria, transforming not only access to family planning but the lives of women and families in hard-to-reach areas.
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