By Izuchukwu Mayor, Lagos
GoMed Nigeria in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Lagos State Government, has launched a digital Self-Care Platform for students at the University of Lagos.
This aims to give young people easier and more private access to essential health products, accurate information, and professional support, the promoters said in a statement.
Young Nigerians face some of the highest rates of unintended pregnancy and unmet need for contraception in the world.
Cost, distance, stigma, misinformation, and fears about confidentiality routinely stop students from seeking the products and guidance they need – with consequences that include unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortion, sexually transmitted infections and interrupted education.
The Self-Care Platform is designed to remove each of these barriers.
Through the platform, students receive free contraceptives and other sexual and reproductive health commodities provided through the Lagos State Ministry of Health and UNFPA, exclusive discounts on health essentials, and fast, discreet delivery directly to campus and student hostels.
Students can also access trusted sexual and reproductive health information and services through UNFPA’s SoftLife 247 and U-Plan platforms.
Through U-PLAN, they can chat directly with qualified Family Planning Service Providers to receive accurate information and address their concerns.
They can also confidently engage with GoMed’s registered pharmacists for confidential, judgement-free guidance on medicines and other health products.
The partnership advances UNFPA’s goal of ending unmet need for family planning by addressing the “last mile” challenge – transforming the availability of free family planning commodities into increased uptake among young people.
It also supports the Lagos State Government’s commitment to reducing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young people, keeping students in school, and expanding access to quality, youth-friendly health services at scale.
Students should be able to get reliable health information and essential products without cost, distance or fear of judgement becoming barriers.
Speaking on the launch, CEO of GoMed Nigeria, Anthony Edeki, said the platform brings trusted support closer to students while respecting their privacy.
“Students should be able to get reliable health information and essential products without cost, distance or fear of judgement becoming barriers.
“This platform brings free sexual and reproductive health commodities, other affordable health products and professional guidance together, with discreet delivery directly to students on campus,” Edeki said.
The Resident Representative, UNFPA in Nigeria, Muriel Mafico, said: “As the UN agency mandated for ‘Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights’, we are committed to reducing preventable maternal deaths and addressing the unmet need for family planning, including by providing and overseeing access to life-saving commodities worldwide.
“Working alongside our partners, we’re helping roll out the digital Self-Care Platform—so that vital, life-changing information can reach more people, more easily. Together, we want to empower Nigeria’s next generation to make informed health choices and achieve stronger health outcomes and a brighter future.”
The initial rollout is available to students at the University of Lagos and will serve as a foundation for GoMed and its partners to extend the model to more university communities across Lagos State and Nigeria.
