The Lagos State Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the Society for Family Health (SFH) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has launched the SWIFT Project, a strategic project to improve women’s health and socioeconomic empowerment throughout the state.
The project was officially launched during a stakeholders’ inception meeting held on Wednesday in Lagos, under the theme: “Increasing Women’s Access to Family Planning Through Pharmacies and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors.”
SWIFT, an acronym for Strengthening Women’s Initiatives for Family Planning and Technology, is a multi-sectoral strategy that aims to increase access to reproductive health care through digital innovation, financial literacy, and health technology.
It will be distributed through pharmacies and patent and private medication vendors (PPMVs), with an emphasis on reaching underserved communities.
Despite the advancements in Lagos, many women and girls still encounter barriers to getting contemporary contraceptive techniques, particularly in low-resource communities, according to Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health.
LAGOS LAUNCHES SWIFT PROJECT TO BOOST WOMEN’S ACCESS TO FAMILY PLANNING, FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
…Stakeholders Commit to Building Capacity of Female Providers, Expanding Services via PPMVS and Pharmacies
Read more… https://t.co/rx92eLVz4a@SFHNigeria @gatesfoundation pic.twitter.com/3pMg1F2yg4
— LSMOH (@LSMOH) May 14, 2025
Distance, expense, stigma, and a shortage of qualified doctors are some of these obstacles.
The program is in line with the state’s THEMES+ goal, she confirmed, especially in terms of attaining universal health coverage and enhancing public-private partnerships.
She complimented all partners for supporting people-centered solutions and commended the Gates Foundation for its continuous investment in women’s health.
Dr Olusegun Ogboye, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos Ministry of Health, described family planning as a transformative development strategy that improves health, stabilises families, and reduces poverty.
He went on to say that SWIFT expands on SFH’s successful Integral Project by giving clinicians the resources and know-how they need to provide top-notch treatment.
“This initiative offers a practical solution to the persistent gaps in family planning services in resource-constrained settings,” Ogboye said.
Mr Olakunle Daramola, State Consultant for the Gates Foundation, described SWIFT as a transformative solution aimed at empowering female entrepreneurs and strengthening healthcare delivery through family planning support.
He highlighted the project’s implementation in Lagos, Kaduna, and Kano, selected due to the positive outcomes of previous health programmes.
Mr Omokhudu Idogho, Managing Director of SFH (represented by Kene Eruchalu, Deputy Managing Director, Programme Delivery), noted that SFH had over four decades of experience in Lagos and would leverage that background to expand access to family planning and public healthcare, while also empowering women economically.
Mrs Ummi Shehu, SWIFT Programme Lead, explained that the three-year project, funded by the Gates Foundation, would provide targeted interventions including:
Capacity building for service providers
Financial linkages and empowerment for women
Digital onboarding of vendors to the Virtual Medicine Input Organisation
Formation of women-led clusters to promote collaboration and resource mobilisation
Mrs Annie Onyipe, representing the National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers in Nigeria (NAPPMED), praised the initiative, noting it would enable vendors to reach more grassroots women.
Dr Taiwo Filusi, from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria’s Lagos Zonal Office, lauded the Gates Foundation for enhancing the technical capacity of medicine vendors.
He stressed the importance of engaging only registered PPMVs and including community pharmacists, describing them as key actors in the healthcare supply chain.
The SWIFT Project is set to make a significant contribution to improving reproductive health indicators in Lagos and enhancing socioeconomic opportunities for women, especially in underserved areas.
