By Peace Udugba
GoMed Nigeria has partnered with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Lagos State Government to launch a digital self-care platform that will provide University of Lagos (UNILAG) students with easier, confidential access to sexual and reproductive health services.
The initiative is expected to improve access to free reproductive health commodities, reliable health information, professional pharmacist support and discreet delivery of health products to campuses and student hostels.
The partners said the project addresses the growing reproductive health challenges facing young Nigerians, many of whom struggle to access family planning services due to financial constraints, stigma, misinformation, distance and concerns about privacy.
These barriers have contributed to unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and interrupted education among students.
Through the newly launched Self-Care Platform, students will receive free contraceptives and other sexual and reproductive health commodities supplied by the Lagos State Ministry of Health and UNFPA. The platform also provides exclusive discounts on health products, confidential consultations with licensed pharmacists and discreet doorstep delivery to university campuses and hostels.
In addition, users can access trusted sexual and reproductive health information through UNFPA’s SoftLife 247 and U-PLAN platforms. Through U-PLAN, students can interact directly with qualified family planning service providers to obtain accurate information, counselling and professional guidance.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Executive Officer of GoMed Nigeria, Anthony Edeki, said the platform was created to remove the barriers preventing students from accessing quality healthcare.
He said students should be able to obtain reliable health information and essential healthcare products without cost, distance or fear of discrimination standing in their way.
“By combining free sexual and reproductive health commodities, affordable healthcare products, professional guidance and discreet delivery, we are making quality healthcare more accessible to students wherever they are on campus,” Edeki said.
Also speaking, UNFPA Nigeria Resident Representative, Muriel Mafico, said the agency remains committed to reducing preventable maternal deaths and addressing the unmet need for family planning through increased access to life-saving reproductive health commodities and services.
She noted that the digital Self-Care Platform would enable more young Nigerians to obtain accurate reproductive health information and services, empowering them to make informed decisions and improve their health outcomes.
According to the partners, the initiative also aligns with the Lagos State Government’s efforts to reduce unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among young people, keep more students in school and expand access to youth-friendly healthcare services across the state.
The pilot phase of the project is currently available to students of the University of Lagos and is expected to serve as a model for expansion to other tertiary institutions across Lagos State and eventually throughout Nigeria.
