SFH Nigeria Website 
News and Photo Stories -Week 40
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SFH IN THE NEWS
Voice of Nigeria, 1 October 2024
Tuberculosis: SFH, Kano State Treats Over 20, 000 Patients
Over 20,000 patients suffering from Tuberculosis are currently enjoying treatment championed by Society for Family Health (SFH) in collaboration with Kano state Government.
The lead, TB, Wash, Corporate and Philanthropy, Pharmacist Jane Adizue revealed this at the SFH TB close-out meeting in Kano, Northwest Nigeria. She explained that, those identified and placed on the treatment were mapped out from private clinics and hospitals across the state over the last five years.
She said, “the programme actually involved in active case finding for TB, so what we do is to work with community structures, focus in the private sector to sensitize, screen and then when there are presumptive we link them to care so that will be properly diagnosed.
Pharm. Adizue said, the programme seeks to follow up to see that all TB cases are detected and placed on treatment. While commending the Kano state government for providing an enabling environment to implement the project.
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Independent, 1 October 2024
SFH, Kano Provides Treatment For Over 20,000 TB Patients
The Society for Family Health (SFH) on Monday said it successfully placed over 20,000 tuberculosis patients on treatment in Kano State.
Pharmacist Jane Adizue, Lead, TB, Wash, Corporate and Philanthropy told Reporters in Kano at the SFH TB LON 1&2 close-out meeting in Kano that it was a collaborative effort with the state government. Jane Adize, explained that the milestone was reached through an active case-finding program that targeted private clinics and hospitals across the state over the last five years.
The Lead, TB Watch Corporate and Philanthropy, stated that the program’s approach involved working with community structures and the private sector to sensitize, screen, and link presumptive cases to care for proper diagnosis.
Adizue emphasised that the program’s goal of detecting and treating all TB cases, as she commended the state government for providing a conducive environment.
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Teeyonline, 1 October 2024
Stakeholders seek reduction of hepatitis, HIV among women
Stakeholders involved in reduction of HIV and Hepatitis among women who inject drugs have advocated for specific programmes and rehabilitation services towards reducing the prevalence of such among the women.
While presenting the research findings carried out in the three pilot states, RIHHWID Programme Coordinator, Peace Ikani, said that WIDs were estimated to make up 20 per cent of all drug users worldwide.
She, however, said that due to criminalisation, gender inequality, and social stigma, the number may be underestimated. This, she said, was because WIDs faced a double stigma, being both drug users and women. “This can lead to compounded adverse effects, as they might be judged for their substance use and for defying traditional gender roles,” she said.
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Daily Legend, 1 October 2024
Stakeholders seek reduction of hepatitis, HIV among women injecting drugs
Stakeholders involved in reduction of HIV and Hepatitis among women who inject drugs have advocated for specific programmes and rehabilitation services towards reducing the prevalence of such among the women.
The stakeholders made the advocacy on Monday in Abuja, at a close-out dissemination meeting on “Reducing the Incidence of HIV and Hepatitis among Women Who Inject Drugs (RIHHWID)” project.
The project was implemented by Society for Family Health (SFH) with funding from ViiV Healthcare Positive Action, aimed at addressing challenges in three pilot states: Abia, Gombe, and Oyo.
According to them, implementation of tailored harm reduction programmes would enable the provision of comprehensive services including clean needles, counseling, education, and healthcare.
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SFH ACTIVITIES
Reflecting on Last Week’s Impactful Engagements at UNGA 2024
On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA2024), Society for Family Health International was represented by Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, our Group Managing Director, and Yusuf Wada Hassan, SFH Health Policy Officer for the African Region, at the Global African Business Initiative (GABI) – Unstoppable Africa: The Solution for a Global Future. The event, hosted by the United Nations Global Compact, took place in New York from 25-26 September 2024.
Unstoppable Africa engages the world in conversations that truly matter, from advancing health for all to energy access and transition to boosting business and trade and harnessing the power of Africa’s young digital pioneers and dynamic creatives in music, film, and sport. Unstoppable Africa convened a powerful line-up of leaders, thinkers, and doers from Africa and the rest of the world to share actionable solutions for the future of our planet and our people, powering an Unstoppable Africa.
SFH participated in high-level discussions with prominent leaders from Africa and beyond, including the CEO of Mastercard,- Michael Miebach, the President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, the President of African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, captains of industry, ministers from several African nations, and governors from various Nigerian states. These engagements aimed to champion a shared vision of improving health outcomes for African communities while recognising Africa’s role in addressing some of the world’s most significant challenges.
Discussions focused on how investing in health systems can improve millions of lives while contributing to broad-reaching prosperity and stability across the Pan-African region.
End of Project Dissemination Highlights SFH’s Impact on Women Who Inject Drugs,
SFH RIHHWID (Reducing the Incidence of HIV and Hepatitis among Women Who Inject Drugs) Project, funded by ViiV Healthcare Positive Action, aims to reduce morbidity and mortality due to HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C among Women Who Inject Drugs (WIDs) in three states: Abia, Gombe, and Oyo. Key achievements from 2022 included the successful linkage of 3,084 WIDs to the National Needle and Syringe Programme (NSP) and linking 663 women to cervical cancer screening. Over two years, the project reached 7,540 WIDs, providing HIV testing services to 5,412 and screening 3,878 for Hepatitis C. In addition, 61 women were linked to HIV treatment. The project utilised evidence from the national Needle and Syringe Programme pilot, pioneered by and its partners, to guide interventions tailored specifically for WIDs.
The project held its End of Project Dissemination Meeting in Abuja, bringing together key stakeholders from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Programme (NASCP), Nigeria Police Force (Police Action Committee on AIDS), World Health Organization, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and other implementing partners such as YouthRISE Nigeria, Jhpiego, APIN Public Health Initiatives, DHRAN, Heartland Alliance, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc., and Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme.
In his opening remarks, SFH DMD, Pharm Kenechukwu Eruchalu, provided an overview of the RIHHWID project. He emphasised the critical work done over the past two years to reduce new HIV and Hepatitis C infections among WIDs in the project states. He also expressed appreciation for the stakeholders’ contributions to achieving the project’s goals.
Peace Ikani, the Programme Coordinator, presented a detailed project report, highlighting interventions that reached 27 local government areas across Abia, Gombe, and Oyo states. She discussed the strategies used in implementation, and challenges encountered in supporting WIDs and emphasised the importance of sustaining harm reduction efforts through continued collaboration with stakeholders.
Dr Olujide Arije, the project’s research consultant, presented the findings from the research component. The study aimed to understand the barriers to harm reduction services faced by WIDs and the insights from the study was used to develop a package of interventions which will help inform future harm reduction programming and ensure that services are better tailored to the specific needs of WIDs.
Through this project, SFH has not only raised awareness about the unique challenges faced by WIDs but also engaged stakeholders to take decisive action in addressing these issues. The successes achieved thus far demonstrate the importance of targeted interventions to improve health outcomes for this vulnerable population.
IntegratE Project holds Medical Outreach in Nasarawa State
The Nasarawa state IntegratE team conducted a 4-day medical outreach in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) with support from the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and Nigerian Association of Patent & Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) – Nasarawa Chapter.
The outreach took place from 24th – 27th September 2024 in Andaha, Himada and Angwan Tiv communities of Akwanga & Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Areas in Nasarawa state and was designed to reach women (especially women of sexual reproductive age), children (especially children under 5 years) and men in the communities visited. The main objective was to expand access to quality family planning and primary healthcare services through community health providers, including community pharmacists and patent medicine vendors. Advocacy visits were made to the various community district heads before the event commenced.
During the outreach over 500 people were attended to by the trained providers. Over 280 women received family planning counselling and services, while over 200 children plus 300 adults received primary healthcare services, including Malaria testing and treatment, pneumonia testing and treatment, diarrhoea treatment, nutritional counselling, blood pressure assessments and general medical counselling services.
The active participation of trained community health providers in the various locations visited was pivotal to the success of the event, as there was a large turnout of community members who came to access FP and PHC services. We are deeply committed to engaging with communities across Nigeria to ensure the continuous delivery of high-impact health interventions.
TARABA STATE AIDS CONTROL AGENCY (TACA) WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL
The Lafiyan Yara Project implemented by Society for Family Health in Taraba paid a courtesy visit to the new Director General, Taraba State AIDS Control Agency (TACA) on 19th September 2024. The purpose of the visit was to congratulate the new DG on his recent appointment by the Taraba State Government and to familiarise and introduce to him the presence of the Lafiyan Yara project in the State.
The visiting team included the Team Lead, the Monitoring & Evaluation officer, and the programme officer. During the visit, the Team Lead made a 5-minute presentation on the general overview of SFH and further gave a background of the Lafiyan Yara project since its inception, cutting through its implementation from Phase 1 and Phase 2 alongside the impact of the project among the target population, its achievements, lessons learnt, challenges and best practices. The secretary to the Agency Mr Sa’adu Abubakar Zangire commended SFH for their contributions to the state, especially among the target groups. He added that the project has impacted positively on the lives of children/adolescents, pregnant women/lactating mothers living with HIV in the state.
The newly appointed Director General, Dr Bako Ali, welcomed the team members and commended them for the project’s strategy in providing comprehensive services to individuals affected by HIV. The project also aims to support caregivers through the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) to empower them in caring for Children Living with HIV (CALHIV), ensuring adherence to their medication, and achieving viral load suppression. Dr. Bako Ali also assured the team that his office is always open to SFH and all other implementing partners. Finally, he expressed his willingness and support for the project and to continue to build on the foundations made by his predecessor.
IntegratE project organises DMPA-SC Self-Injection Moment of Truth (MOT)/ Empathy training in Sokoto State
The IntegratE Sokoto recently organised a DMPA-SC Self-Injection Moment of Truth (MOT)/ Empathy training at Shukura Hotel, Sokoto. The training targeted Tier 2 and 3 Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) as well as community pharmacists with the goal of enhancing their understanding and competency in administering and supporting clients with DMPA-SC (Subcutaneous Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate), particularly for self-injection.
The event was facilitated by the IntegratE team, including Queen Obianuju Chimbiko (State Technical Advisor Kaduna), Ummulkulsum Abubakar Dikko (State Technical Advisor, Sokoto), and Abdulkadir Danmaigoro (M&E Consultant). The training included a series of interactive sessions, presentations, role plays and practical demonstrations to ensure that the providers gained competency in offering contraceptive methods, counselling clients on the benefits and proper usage of DMPA-SC, and empowering women to take control of their reproductive health.
The DMPA-SC Self-Injection Moment of Truth (MOT) training was a successful and impactful event as it equipped PPMVs with essential skills and knowledge to support clients in the administration and self-injection of DMPA-SC. The participants expressed their gratitude for the practical nature of the training.
Quotes/Nuggets
Catch up with some important updates
- Register to attend HFN Health Policy Dialogue
- The Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) is hosting a High-Level Healthcare Policy Dialogue under the theme: “Private Sector Support for SWAP (Sector Wide Approach) in Healthcare.” Join our Deputy Managing Director, Dr. Jennifer Anyanti and other leading experts and decision-makers to explore solutions that will drive Nigeria closer to Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
- Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
- Time: 9:00 AM
- Venue: Abuja (More details will be shared with confirmed physical attendees)
Click here to register: Here.
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