Health
PT Health Watch: Why women face higher risk of thyroid disorders — Expert
The thyroid gland, a small butterfly-shaped organ located at the front of the neck, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, heart rate and body temperature.
Yet thyroid disorders often go undetected, especially among women, whose symptoms are frequently mistaken for stress, ageing or normal hormonal changes.
Speaking with PT Health Watch, reproductive endocrinologist Oladapo Ashiru said women are far more likely than men to develop thyroid disorders, citing Nigerian studies that reported female-to-male ratios ranging from 6.3:1 to as high as 98:1.
According to Mr Ashiru, recognising the warning signs early is important because untreated thyroid disorders can affect fertility, pregnancy and overall quality of life.
Symptoms often overlooked
Mr Ashiru explained that thyroid disorders generally occur in two forms: hypothyroidism, where the gland is underactive, and hyperthyroidism, where it is overactive.
An underactive thyroid commonly causes unexplained weight gain, sensitivity to cold and hair thinning, while an overactive thyroid may lead to unexplained weight loss, heat intolerance and a faster metabolism.
“If the thyroid is underactive, there will be increased weight or unexplained weight gain. If it is overactive, there will be unexplained weight loss. The person may feel too cold in a normal environment if it is underactive, or too hot in a cool environment if it is overactive,” he said.
Beyond these symptoms, women may experience irregular menstrual cycles, mood changes, anxiety, depression, constipation or frequent bowel movements.
Mr Ashiru, who is the Chairman and Chief Medical Director of Medical Art Centre, said women are also more likely to experience neck tightness caused by an enlarged thyroid gland, excessive tearing and persistent symptoms even after treatment.
By contrast, men more commonly present with heart palpitations.
He explained that because many thyroid symptoms resemble those associated with stress, menopause and other everyday conditions, thyroid disorders in women are often overlooked or diagnosed late.
Effects on fertility and pregnancy
Mr Ashiru said women between the ages of 30 and 49 face the highest risk of thyroid disorders, although younger women can also be affected.
He warned that untreated thyroid disease can interfere with ovulation, increase menstrual bleeding, raise the risk of miscarriage and contribute to complications after childbirth.
Women planning pregnancy, he advised, should consider thyroid screening to detect and treat any underlying condition before conception.
The endocrinologist also highlighted postpartum thyroiditis, an inflammation of the thyroid gland that can occur after childbirth.
According to him, new mothers should not dismiss persistent exhaustion as simply part of caring for a newborn, as it may signal an underlying thyroid disorder.
Screening and healthy habits
Mr Ashiru said thyroid disorders can be diagnosed through simple hormone tests available in many Nigerian hospitals and laboratories.
He recommended routine screening, particularly for women aged 35 years and above, pregnant women and people with a family history of thyroid disease.
Although some thyroid conditions are hereditary, he said healthy lifestyle habits may help support thyroid function.
These include getting adequate sleep, managing stress, eating a balanced diet with appropriate amounts of iodine and selenium-rich foods such as eggs, fish and beans, and engaging in regular physical activity.
He also encouraged stress management through family support, prayer and relaxation techniques, including deep-breathing exercises.
Some of his recommendations, including limiting processed foods, genetically modified foods and environmental toxins, reflect his clinical opinion on factors that may influence thyroid health.
READ ALSO: PT Health Watch: Persistent fatigue, weight changes may signal thyroid disorder Expert
Early diagnosis improves outcomes
Mr Ashiru said treatment depends on the type of thyroid disorder, with many patients responding well to thyroid hormone replacement therapy or other appropriate medications.
He stressed that early diagnosis remains the most effective way to prevent complications and improve quality of life.
Describing the thyroid as a vital organ, he said it regulates reproductive hormones and supports the proper functioning of the heart, skin and other body systems.
He also warned that exposure to environmental toxins may affect thyroid function and urged people to minimise avoidable environmental risks.
Health
Tinubu establishes National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office, appoints Obi Adigwe pioneer coordinator
President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO) and appointed Obi Adigwe as its pioneer National Coordinator.
The agency will be domiciled in the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
The NHTDAO will serve as a meta-level national platform for coordinating the country’s digital health agenda.
It will reinforce, not replace, the existing statutory functions of relevant departments and agencies.
It will also harmonise and empower the public and private institutions across the health system, set the standards that connect them, and operationalise the National Digital Health Architecture, approved by the National Council on Health in November 2025.
The National Coordinator, Mr Adigwe, as Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, has leveraged science to catalyse interventions in artificial intelligence, translational research, and technology transfer.
He coordinated major projects, including the ¥300m Nanotechnology grant and the AFREXIMBank grant for Africa’s first API Training Facility. He led the roadmap development that underpinned an €18 million EU grant, the largest in Africa for the thematic area.
During the last pandemic, Mr Adigwe showcased African science globally by conducting the world’s first analysis to debunk claims about the Covid Organics preparation.
The Office’s Steering Committee, which will provide strategic direction and oversight, comprises:
- Muhammad Ali Pate, CON, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare (Co-chair)
- Olaniyi Yusuf, Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (Co-chair)
- Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare (Alternate Co-chair)
- Kachollom Daju, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
- Idris Alubankudi Saliu, Special Adviser to the President on Technology and Digital Economy
- Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, National Coordinator, SWAp Coordination Office
- Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator, Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain
- Muyi Aina, Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency
- Kelechi Ohiri, Director General, National Health Insurance Authority
- Director, Health Planning, Research and Statistics, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
National Information Technology Development Agency - Six representatives of State Commissioners of Health, one from each of the six geopolitical zones
- Pharm Hamza Buhari, stakeholder representing industry and community
President Tinubu expects the NHTDAO to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a secure, interoperable and data-driven health system that improves health outcomes for all citizens, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
26 June, 2026
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) has disbursed N339 billion to states since its establishment in 2014, with N235 billion released in the last three years, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has said.
Mr Pate said the increased funding reflects intensified investments in primary healthcare and has accelerated access to essential health services across the country.
He spoke on Friday in Abuja after chairing the 15th Expanded Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting on the implementation of the BHCPF and other health sector reforms.
“In the last 12 years of BHCPF, N339 billion was disbursed to states, out of which N235 billion was disbursed only in the last three years,’ he said.
“This shows the intensification of the effort to expand Primary Health Care (PHC) under this administration,” he said.
Mr Pate said the committee approved N32.88 billion as the second-quarter 2026 BHCPF disbursement to sustain healthcare services nationwide.
He added that the committee also approved modalities for the inclusion of private-sector representatives on the Ministerial Oversight Committee to strengthen stakeholder participation in health sector governance.
Primary healthcare expansion
According to the minister, more than 8,000 PHCs across the 36 states continue to receive funding through the BHCPF gateways.
He said the funds are channelled through primary healthcare agencies, health insurance authorities, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and emergency medical services.
Mr Pate added that assessments are underway to increase the number of supported facilities from more than 8,000 to 17,600 nationwide.
He also said the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has upgraded more than 3,000 PHCs at different stages across the country.
Emergency care and disease preparedness
Mr Pate said the investments had resulted in increased utilisation of healthcare services and expansion of emergency medical treatment nationwide.
According to him, 35 states have established emergency medical service structures, while the remaining two still rely on federal institutions for emergency response.
He said more than 130,000 Nigerians have benefited from emergency medical services financed through the BHCPF.
The minister added that the NCDC has continued to support states in strengthening disease surveillance, outbreak detection, and emergency response through the fund.
He disclosed that the federal government has approved disbursements to all 36 states to strengthen preparedness against Ebola Virus Disease following recent developments in parts of Africa.
Improving health indicators
Mr Pate said preliminary results from the 2026 Mini Demographic and Health Survey (Mini-DHS) indicate improvements in several key health indicators since the National Health Sector Renewal Initiative began.
According to him, the survey recorded improvements in antenatal care attendance, skilled birth attendance, contraceptive use, immunisation coverage, child health and HIV services.
“The purpose was to see if we are making progress, and we are glad to see that there is progress. It means we have to double down,” he said.
He added that health insurance enrolment has increased from about 15 million beneficiaries at the start of the current administration to more than 22 million, with over six million Nigerians newly enrolled in the past three years.
Maternal and newborn health
The minister said more than 48,000 women have received free comprehensive emergency obstetric care funded by the federal government through 237 participating health facilities nationwide.
He said many beneficiaries would have struggled to pay for life-saving interventions, including caesarean sections.
READ ALSO: Professors Adamu and Pate: Gentle giants of communication scholarship, By Yushau A Shuaib
Mr Pate also disclosed that the government’s Free Fistula Programme has provided surgical repairs for more than 4,771 women, who have also been rehabilitated and reintegrated into society after treatment.
In addition, he said more than 2,900 newborns have benefited from the federal government’s neonatal health programme.
Mr Pate reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to strengthening accountability, improving coordination and ensuring the efficient use of health resources to advance Universal Health Coverage.
(NAN)
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