Women And Health In Southwest Nigeria, 1901-1960

http://doi.org/10.36349/olijhe.2024.v.01i01.006

Abstract

The nexus between health and wealth is incontrovertible. Health creates wealth. In the absence of health, production of goods and services, a fundamental aspect of every civilization is unattainable. It is not even possible for a society bereft of healthy population to reproduce itself. In consequence, the maxim “health is wealth” is apt and unarguable. Health, however, is not an abstract idea and it does not occur in a vacuum. It requires massive investments on the part of the government and diligent efforts on the part of the individuals so that the society has a virile and healthy population which is indispensable to development. Among the ways women contribute to economic upliftment and development all over the world is through their employment in the health sector. This could be done formally or otherwise. There are women doctors, dentists, gynecologists, nurses, midwives and female health-care professionals that have contributed immensely to the growth and development of Southwest Nigeria. Given the inadequate scholarly attention devoted to these professionals, this article analyses a history of women and health with a view to examining the contributions of women to health in the Southwest Nigeria from 1901 to 1960. The study relies heavily on the combination of oral, archival and secondary sources.