By Our Correspondent
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has formalized a partnership with the Civil Society Organisation, Center for Health Care Development and Youth Empowerment (Intersex Nigeria), to integrate intersex perspectives into national healthcare policies.
This collaboration, cemented through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in Abuja, aims to enhance access to care and protection for individuals born with variations in sex characteristics.
Intersex traits, which can be anatomical, gonadal, or chromosomal, affect approximately 1.7% of the global population.
Some children may not immediately show these variations at birth, discovering them later in life.
The partnership reflects a growing effort to address the stigma and misconceptions surrounding intersex individuals within the healthcare system.
Speaking at the event, Dr. John Ovuoraye, Director of the Department of Family Health, emphasized that the Ministry, under the guidance of Minister Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, had initiated efforts since 2024 to mainstream intersex advocacy into healthcare policies.
“Low awareness of intersex issues fuels harmful myths and social stigma.
Recognizing these issues as public health concerns ensures that intersex persons receive the respect, understanding, and healthcare they deserve,” Ovuoraye said.
Intersex Nigeria also launched a comprehensive policy toolkit at the event, designed to help hospitals and clinics adopt inclusive practices for intersex patients.
Obioma Chukwuike, Executive Director and Founder of Intersex Nigeria, stated that the toolkit provides practical guidance to improve the lived experiences of intersex people across Nigeria.
This MOU marks a critical step in Nigeria’s journey toward inclusive healthcare, highlighting the government’s commitment to leading public education and policy coordination on intersex issues.
By raising awareness, the Ministry hopes to foster greater acceptance and remove the stigma often associated with variations in sexual characteristics.
With this initiative, Nigeria joins a global movement advocating for equal healthcare rights for intersex persons, emphasizing that access to care and societal acceptance should be universal.
