SFH Nigeria Website 
News and Photo Stories Week 25
SFH IN THE NEWS
Over 129,000 young brides in Nasarawa now using contraceptives — SFH
A Non-Governmental Organisation, the Society for Family Health, has announced that no fewer than 129,285 married adolescent girls in Nasarawa State have adopted the use of contraceptives, championed by its Adolescents 360 Project, which is aimed at improving their Sexual and Reproductive Health. The SFH also commended the state’s ministry of health for working hard towards attaining the current contraceptive prevalence rate of 22.3 per cent.
The Health Governance and Public Policy Specialist of the SFH, Kenneth Okoineme, made the disclosure in the Keffi Local Government Area of the state on Saturday at the close of a two-day residential transition policy dialogue meeting organised by the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health.
Katsina, SFH Partner to Boost Maternal, Child Health
The Katsina State Government and the Society for Family Health have pledged to deepen collaboration on child spacing and maternal health, with a focus on voluntary and informed choices.
Speaking at the event, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Musa Funtua, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting SFH interventions, describing the Delivering Innovation in Self-Care 2.0 (DISC 2.0) project as visible and impactful across communities.
The representative of both the SFH Managing Director, Dr Omokhudu Idogho, and DISC 2.0 Project Lead, Dr Anthony Nwala, Michael Titus, underscored the project’s mission to empower women with self-care solutions for improved reproductive health.
SFH ACTIVITIES
Period Poverty: A Silent Barrier to A Girl’s Dignity
Period poverty refers to the struggle many girls and women face in affording or accessing menstrual products and proper sanitation during their periods. According to UNFPA, millions of girls skip school every month simply because they lack access to pads or toilets.
Click here to know how SFH is tackling period poverty in Nigeria.
SFH Attends Central, West, and East Africa Infectious Disease Summit 2025
Society for Family Health (SFH) recently participated in the Central, West, and East Africa Infectious Disease Summit 2025, hosted by Abbott Rapid Diagnostics in Abuja, from June 17–19. Our delegation, led by the Deputy Managing Director, Dr Jennifer Anyanti, and Managing Director, SFH Access, Pharm Dennis Aizobu, included representatives from the GF-NTHRIP and HEPC3P projects.
The summit brought together about 140 public health experts, government stakeholders, and partners from 12 African countries, all committed to tackling HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis across the continent. A major highlight was the key discussion on the introduction of 4th-generation HIV rapid tests in Nigeria’s public health system, marking a significant step in improving the early detection and management of HIV.
The forum also explored strategies for addressing new infections, innovative approaches to HIV self-testing, and the integration of hepatitis elimination strategies. Notable sessions included discussions on early infant detection, viral load monitoring, and the role of point-of-care diagnostics in decentralised settings.
Through these strategic collaborations, SFH will continue to drive innovative, actionable, and sustainable impact to strengthen the public health response in Nigeria and across Africa.
Dr Omokhudu Idogho Highlights Role of Positive Masculinity in Building Inclusive Communities
Dr Omokhudu Idogho recently underscored the critical role of positive masculinity in fostering equitable and violence-free societies. This insight follows his participation as a co-moderator at ActionAid Nigeria’s West African Regional Convening on Positive Masculinity and Ending Gender-Based Violence.
The convening, themed “Experience and Lessons in Applying Positive Masculinity in Addressing Gender-Based Violence in the African Sub-Region,” brought together over 200 participants from diverse backgrounds, uniting voices from across generations and communities to rethink what it means to be a man in today’s world.
“The session sparked deep reflections and inspired actionable insights on building inclusive, violence-free communities,” stated Dr Idogho. He further reflected on his time at ActionAid International South Africa, where he served as the Global HIV & AIDS Programme Coordinator, leading impactful work across 22 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. That experience, he noted, continues to shape his lens on community-driven development and the power of inclusive programming.
Throughout the event, participants engaged in powerful conversations about masculinity, gender equality, the role of media in ending harmful social norms, and gender justice. They engaged in deep reflections on harmful stereotypes, unpacked the silent expectations placed on men, and explored the critical role of men as allies in the fight to end gender-based violence (GBV).
In the wake of Father’s Day, Dr Idogho’s engagement highlights a broader message about the evolving role of men in society, one that champions positive masculinity as a cornerstone for creating a safer, more equitable future for all.
SFH & Lagos State Renew Commitment to Malaria Elimination through Stakeholder Collaboration
In a renewed effort to strengthen malaria elimination efforts in Lagos State, the Lagos State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Society for Family Health (SFH), convened a Malaria Technical Working Group (MTWG) meeting on Tuesday, 17th June 2025, at GolfView Hotel, Ikeja. The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including officials from the State Malaria Elimination programme, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board (LSPHCB), LGA Medical Officers of Health, M&E Unit, and LGA pharmacy/logisticians to review ongoing activities under the Malaria Impact Project, funded by Lagos State Government through the World Bank credit.
The meeting was led by the Director, Disease Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Victoria Egunjobi, who described the gathering as a “family meeting” focused on reviewing progress, addressing implementation challenges, and strengthening collaboration for improved malaria outcomes across the state.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Stanley Ugah, Project Director of the SFH-implemented Malaria Impact Project in Lagos, highlighted SFH efforts so far on the project through training of Healthcare Professionals, commodity distribution, SBCC activities, and continuous Supportive visit to facilities. He also noted the project’s core components; malaria control, immunisation plus, demand generation, data system strengthening, and Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC). He noted that the project, which runs until December 2025, aims to improve service quality and promote local ownership of malaria interventions.
Presentations made by the Lagos State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP) Malaria IMPACT PIU, revealed key findings from recent Integrated Monitoring and Supportive Visits (IMSV) and Data Quality Assessments (DQA). These include persistent clinical diagnoses despite the availability of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (MRDTs), prescription of ACTs for patients who tested negative, and discrepancies in facility data between registers and the national health information system. It was also observed that some clinicians continue to insist on microscopy tests even after negative RDT results, raising concerns over diagnostic accuracy and the risk of misdiagnosis.
Dr Ugah called on all stakeholders to prioritise routine facility monitoring, reinforce adherence to national malaria guidelines, and ensure that every fever case is tested for malaria before treatment.
Katsina Government and Stakeholders Applaud SFH-DISC 2.0 for Advancing Child-Spacing and Self-Care
Society for Family Health Nigeria (SFH), in collaboration with the Katsina State Ministry of Health and the Primary Health Care Agency, convened the first Biannual Stakeholders Meeting for the Delivering Innovation in Self-Care (DISC) 2.0 project in Katsina State on 17th June 2025. The event brought together key state and community actors committed to improving child spacing and reproductive health outcomes in the state.
In attendance were the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr Musa Adamu Funtua; Permanent Secretary, Dr Ahmad Hamza; Executive Secretary of KPHCA, Dr Shamsuddeen Yahaya; directors from SMoH and KPHCA; Alh. Saada Muhammad Saada of the Katsina Emirate; Alh. Albashe Abdullahi, Serkin Tsabta Daura Emirate; all 34 LGA directors of primary health care; MCH coordinators; M&E officers; partners; and project beneficiaries.
The meeting provided updates on DISC 2.0 implementation and showcased community-level successes, accountability, and collaborative discussions around scaling child spacing interventions in the state. Speaking on behalf of SFH, Mr Michael Titus expressed gratitude for the collective commitment to the health and well-being of Katsina State. He emphasised the project’s alignment with the state’s health priorities, including its integration with the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) and support for the 2025 Annual Operational Plan (AOP). He highlighted SFH support for MNCH systems strengthening in the co-design of the MAMII implementation plan and efforts to reduce maternal deaths. As part of its contributions, 500 FP registers, 500 NHMIS MSF, 12,000 client cards, and 60,000 self-injection job aids were donated to the government.
Receiving the donations, Dr Musa Funtua, the State Commissioner for Health, reaffirmed the government’s support for SFH interventions, commending the visible and impactful nature of the DISC 2.0 project. He said, “The journey of SFH in Katsina State is not only theoretical; it is visible and impactful. We are proud to be partners in progress.”
Key presentations from the state MCH coordinator, health educator, and M&E officer highlighted service delivery innovations, including empathy-based counselling, C4C training, e-SSV checklist roll-out, DQA, male engagement, and community mobilisation/outreaches, all of which enhance access to family planning. Beneficiaries shared success stories, including a mother of seven who successfully adopted self-injection, a provider championing quality service delivery, and an MCH coordinator cascading training and SSV to non-supported facilities.
The next steps included the immediate removal of all outdated FP registers, advocacy for a dedicated FP commodity budget line, engaging FMoH to fast-track upload of missing health facilities on DHIS2/LMIS, and improving monthly FP reporting rates.
Borno Team Participation at Borno Self Care Guideline Validation Workshop
Society for Family Health through the IntegratE Borno team, recently participated in the Borno State Self-Care Guideline Validation Workshop organised by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in collaboration with White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) with other key state actors and partners.
The aim of the workshop was to adapt the National Self-Care Guideline for Sexual Reproductive and Maternal Health (SRMH) to the unique context of Borno State, ensuring it is culturally relevant, accessible and actionable. The workshop was critical for strengthening community-level SRMH access, especially in hard-to-reach and humanitarian settings.
The Director of Public Health, Dr Goni Abba, delivered the opening remarks during the start of the workshop, extending a warm welcome to everyone present and expressing gratitude for their outstanding work. He emphasised how the team’s efforts to contribute to the review and validation of the self-care guidelines will help in delivering transformative and quality healthcare to the good people of Borno. During the meeting, the Self-care Committee Co-Chair, Mr Jerry Joel, highlighted the significant role the Community Pharmacists (CPs) and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) have been playing at their various communities through the IntegratE project implemented by Society for Family Health in collaboration with other consortium partners.
A few of the recommendations deliberated during the meeting were: BOR-REC15b “Over-the-counter emergency pills should be made available without prescription.” BOR-REC 32- Local cereal and legumes as an alternative to Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to manage malnutrition”. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Abubakar Hassan, Senior Special Adviser to the State Governor on Health, and the closing remark was made by Director Public Health, Dr Goni Abba
Tips for Safe Water in Flood Situation
The Nigeria Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency have predicted severe flooding in several states during the rainy season. With this increased risk comes a heightened threat of water contamination and disease outbreaks.
Knowing how to keep your water safe before, during, and after a flood is important. This guide provides practical tips to help you stay prepared, protect your health, and maintain access to clean and safe water during flood emergencies.
Don’t forget to share with someone.
Upcoming Events
Implementing Consent for Photos & Videos: Practical Guidelines for Ethical Engagement with Staff and Beneficiaries
We are excited to invite you to the next session of the SFH Communications Series, focused on a critical yet often overlooked aspect of our work: obtaining proper consent when capturing and using photos or videos.
Topic: Implementing Consent for Photos & Videos: Practical Guidelines for Ethical Engagement with Staff and Beneficiaries
Date: Wednesday, 25th June, 2025Time: 11 amVenue: Microsoft TeamsSpeaker: Nafisa Ikechukwu (Legal Advisor)
As communicators, programme staff, or field officers, we often document our work visually. However, we must do so ethically, respecting the rights, dignity, and privacy of everyone we engage with.
This session will cover:
- What constitutes valid photo/video consent
- How and when to ask for it
- What to do in sensitive situations
- Ethical storytelling: putting people before content
Don’t miss this opportunity to equip ourselves with the tools and knowledge needed to uphold SFH values while sharing our impact responsibly.
Health Talk: Recognising and Managing Burnout in the Workplace
As part of our commitment to fostering a healthier and more balanced workplace, the SFH WellNest Community invites you to an insightful health talk on: Recognising and Managing Burnout in the Workplace. Join this Community Health Talk as Dr Eze Nwokoma, Alternate Lead RMNCHEAH+N cone, shares practical strategies for identifying burnout and navigating its impact on personal well-being and productivity.
Date: Wednesday, June 26thTime: 11:00 AMVenue: Microsoft Teams
This session promises to be engaging and informative, offering useful tips to help you maintain balance, recharge effectively, and perform at your best. We encourage everyone to attend and be part of this important conversation. Your well-being matters
Weekly Quotes/Nuggets
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