News and Photo Stories Week 18

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SFH IN THE NEWS

Malaria: Delta distributes 3.182 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets

Guardian, 30 April 2025

Delta State Government has commenced the distribution of 3.182 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) across the 25 local government areas of the state.

The state Ministry of Health Programme Manager for Malaria, Dr. Julie Aniah, announced this yesterday at a one-day media training held in Asaba, the State capital.

Dr. Aniah said the State Ministry of Health and National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) are working round the clock to carry out the mass campaign for malaria elimination exercise within 44 days.

She noted that the government is desirous to prevent malaria with special emphasis on the use of ITNs and urged journalists to develop interest in the malaria elimination campaign and activities to create awareness in the large society.

The Campaign Manager, Society for Family Health, Mr. Gbue Denen Daniel, said evidence has shown that Nigeria accounts for nearly 110 million clinically diagnosed cases yearly, which is an estimated 30 percent of child and 11 percent maternal deaths each due to malaria.

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Lagos, GoodKnight, SFH Partner To Tackle Malaria

Citizens News, 26 April 2025

The Lagos State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Society for Family Health and Goodknight Nigeria, marked the 2025 World Malaria Day with a vibrant awareness walk and a strategic stakeholders and media engagement aimed at galvanizing action towards malaria elimination.

The engagement climaxed at the Conference Hall of the Folarin Coker Staff Clinic, where the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, delivered a data-rich keynote address, asserting that Lagos is well on track to achieve malaria pre-elimination status with a prevalence rate currently at 1.3%.

In his remarks, Dr Stanley Ugah, Project Director of the Society for Family Health (SFH) IMPACT Project, reiterated SFH’s alignment with the State Government’s “Test Before Treatment” policy. He noted that unnecessary antimalarial use without diagnosis is a major concern, and SFH supports the provision of quality-assured test kits and medications.

“We want to be part of the historic moment when Lagos is declared malaria-free,” he said. He added that through World Bank support, SFH is training healthcare providers and working with communities to raise awareness and strengthen grassroots malaria case management.

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SFH ACTIVITIES

SFH Staff celebrates workers’ day

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SFH PACS Project holds Quarterly Provider Review meeting in Kaduna State

SFH PACS project is currently holding its quarterly provider review meeting from 28th to 30th April 2025 in Kaduna State. The review meeting, which brought together 244 community pharmacists (CPs) and patent and proprietary medicine vendors (PPMVs) from seven clusters, including Giwa, Sabon Gari, Zaria, Chikun, Igabi, Kaduna North, and Kaduna South, aimed to strengthen the private sector’s contribution to primary healthcare delivery. It also provided an opportunity to assess the state-level performance, emphasise the use of the digital inventory platform, evaluate the provider’s compliance with Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) regulations, and strengthen purchasing practices.

In his welcome address, Mr Sebastine Ikejide, PACS Project Director, commended the providers for their contributions toward improving community health outcomes. He highlighted key achievements of the intervention, including improved access to quality medicines through Vendor Management Inventory Organisations (VMIOs), reduced stock-outs via inventory loan options, and more informed business decisions driven by data from the digital inventory platform. These gains, he noted, are strengthening supply chain efficiency and enhancing service delivery at the last mile. Also speaking at the meeting, Vice President of NAPPMED Kaduna, Hajiya Lawal Fasilat, applauded SFH for the impactful intervention. She encouraged participating providers to apply the insights gained from the review meeting to their daily operations.

Participants shared testimonies on the positive impact of the intervention in the state, particularly around access to quality services and counselling within their communities. They also interacted with health tech organisations (Vendor Management Inventory Organisation – VMIO) present during the meeting (Shelf Life, Maisha Meds, and Remedial Health) and had their challenges and concerns around access to quality commodities addressed. With funding from MSD for Mothers, the PACS project aims to increase the quantity and quality of health services by incentivising community-based providers to adhere to accreditation with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN). The project is currently being implemented by Society for Family Health (SFH) and Solina Center for International Development and Research (SCIDaR).

SFH and MTV Staying Alive Foundation Spark Conversations on Female Empowerment Across Kano and Lagos Through Film

Society for Family Health (SFH), in partnership with the MTV Staying Alive Foundation (SAF), has concluded community screenings of Afefe, a compelling short film from the InBloom Series, in Kano and is rounding off similar screenings in Lagos on 2nd May 2025. The screenings aimed to ignite conversations around female economic empowerment, addressing gender-related social barriers through the lens of storytelling.

The InBloom Series is a collection of films tackling issues such as period poverty, HIV self-stigmatisation, and women’s financial independence. Afefe — meaning “wind” in Yoruba — tells the story of a young woman navigating personal and societal challenges to establish economic self-reliance.

In Kano State, the screenings were held in four Local Government Areas: Kano Municipal, Fagge, Nasarawa, and Wudil. In Lagos, sessions were conducted in Agege, Alimosho, Lagos Island, and Eti-Osa LGAs. The sessions attracted over 400 participants across both states, including women, young persons, health workers, religious and community leaders.

Participants expressed strong emotional resonance with the film’s themes. One attendee in Wudil, Kano, remarked, “This story is about me. I have dreams too, and this gives me hope.” A youth group facilitator in Alimosho, Lagos, commented, “This is more than a film in 10 Minutes, it’s a catalyst for change. Our girls and women must be supported to become self-reliant.” Another said “Men need to watch this especially My father.”

Each screening was followed by facilitated discussions where participants shared insights and proposed solutions tailored to their community contexts. Pre- and post-screening surveys revealed a significant shift in perceptions about women’s roles in business and the importance of economic independence.

The collaboration between SFH and MTV SAF reinforces the importance of integrating creative media with public health initiatives. As Lagos wraps up the final screenings on 2nd May, the collected feedback will help shape future outreach efforts and strengthen culturally relevant advocacy messaging.

The screenings mark a promising step towards using art to inspire action and amplify the voices of women across Nigeria.

RIHHWUD Project Trains Staff on Gender-Responsive Harm Reduction

The RIHHWUD Project recently organised a four-day training to strengthen the capacity of its project staff in providing gender-responsive harm reduction services to Women who Use Drugs (WUDs). Held from April 22–25, 2025, at Dover Hotel, Lekki, the training brought together project staff from the four implementing states — Abia, Gombe, Oyo, and Kaduna — along with the Director-General of the Kaduna State Bureau for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (KADBUSA), Dr Joseph Ike. The training featured sessions on harm reduction principles, gender and power dynamics, and responding effectively to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). The programme aimed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to deliver comprehensive, gender-sensitive, and effective services, tailored to the unique needs of WUDs.

By focusing on the minimum service package and incorporating a women-centered approach, the training prepared service providers to develop appropriate responses to cases of GBV and human rights abuses. This, in turn, will help create a more supportive and empowering environment for women accessing harm reduction services. Dr Ike, a key stakeholder in the project’s implementation in Kaduna State, emphasised the importance of state-led initiatives for sustainability, system strengthening, and improved service delivery. His participation underscored the vital role of government collaboration in ensuring the success and scalability of harm reduction programmes.

The RIHHWUD Project remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering harm reduction services that meet the specific needs of women who use drugs, promoting dignity, health, and human rights.

AGILE Nasarawa conducts Training of Trainers Workshop

Sequel to the development of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project manual, the project team immediately set out to train the master trainers for the project via the training of trainers (ToT) workshop. This training at Paradise Hotel, Lafia, Nasarawa State, runs from Monday the 28th of April, 2025, to Friday 2nd of May 2025. This workshop is a crucial step in ensuring that the already developed manual is well understood by the trainers and, in turn, cascaded effectively to the second level of trainers, i.e the School teachers & Guidance Counselors who will serve as mentors to anchor the safe space sessions in the selected secondary schools in Nasarawa state.

SFH AGILE project team has put together a seasoned faculty of trainers within the organisation to deliver the ToT workshop. In attendance at this workshop are the pre-selected master trainers on this project who will train the teachers at the school level, members of the Nasarawa State AGILE state project implementing unit (SPIU) and the SFH AGILE project team.

Inauguration of the Nasarawa State Technical Committee on CPs and PPMVs Service Delivery Sustainability

As part of efforts to strengthen the sustainability of private sector engagement in primary healthcare delivery, the IntegratE project in Nasarawa State, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health, inaugurated the State Technical Committee on Community Pharmacists (CPs) and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) Service Delivery Sustainability. The committee is tasked with providing strategic oversight for the implementation, coordination, and sustainability of activities of CPs and PPMVs in Nasarawa State. The objective is to ensure state ownership and facilitate a smooth transition and institutionalisation of the IntegratE model within the state health system.

The inauguration took place during the State RMNCAH+N Technical Working Group meeting, held at the Honourable Commissioner’s Conference Room, SMOH, Lafia. The event was officiated by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS), who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry. During the inauguration, the representative of the Permanent Secretary emphasised the importance of interagency collaboration to achieve sustainable healthcare delivery in the state through the CPs and PPMVs. The committee’s Terms of Reference (ToR) were presented and discussed, setting the tone for its expected contributions to institutionalising the gains of the IntegratE project in the state.

At the end of the meeting, a ten-member committee was set up, including the Director, Pharmaceutical Services, Director, Public Health, Director, Planning, Research, and Statistics, RH/FP Coordinator and other key stakeholders from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and the state ministry of health.

Weekly Quotes/Nuggets

Important updates to catch up with

HFN Healthcare Leadership Conference 2025

Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) is hosting its Healthcare Leadership Conference 2025 in collaboration with WHX Lagos (formerly Medic West Africa). The future of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is built on innovation, collaboration, and integration.

That’s why HFN’s Healthcare Leadership Conference is uniting top experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to drive high-quality, accessible healthcare solutions.

Join our Deputy Managing Director, Dr Jennifer Anyanti, alongside other speakers at the conference.

Theme: Accelerating Universal Health Coverage: Scaling Up Best Practices Through Public-Private Integration

Venue: Landmark Center, Lagos
Date: June 2nd | 10:00 AM

Key Discussions:

✅ The Role of Public-Private Integration in Strengthening Nigeria’s Healthcare
✅ Scaling Up UHC Through Digital & Mobile Technology – Practical Roadmaps & Innovations
✅ Quality as the Cornerstone of UHC – Strengthening the Healthcare Value Chain for Better Outcomes

Register Here: Here

Have you read our 2024 Annual Report?

Our 2024 Annual Report showcases our commitment to delivering quality healthcare and transforming lives across communities. To explore our impact, key achievements, and to learn more about how we are breaking barriers to ensure health for all.

Read the full report here.

Introducing SFH Access Logistics – Your Partner for Seamless Delivery Across Nigeria

We are excited to announce the latest expansion of the SFH Access portfolio, SFH Access Logistics. SFH Access Logistics is your trusted partner committed to delivering reliable, cost-effective, and timely logistics solutions across Nigeria. Our services include:
– Bulk haulage of commodities and assets nationwide.
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Reach us: +2348155540008, logistics@sfhaccess.org

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