SFH Nigeria Website 
News and Photo Stories Week 26
SFH IN THE NEWS
Lagos Govt., SFH drive family planning expansion through e-pharmacy
NANNews, 25 June 2025
The Lagos State Government and the Society for Family Health are expanding family planning access for residents through online pharmacies to achieve a more inclusive, efficient and equitable health system. Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the State Governor on Health, said this at the E-Pharmacy for Family Planning Project First Phase Dissemination on Tuesday in Lagos.
The event was themed, “The Digital Shift: Shaping the Future of Healthcare Access and Delivery Through e-Pharmacies”.
Dr Jennifer Anyanti, Deputy Managing Director, Strategy and Growth, SFH, noted that Lagos State’s support for the e-Pharmacy initiative was a testament to its commitment to improving access to quality healthcare services for all residents.
Click here to read more
Kaduna govt to distribute 4.5 million treated malaria nets
DailyNigeria, 25 June 2025
The Kaduna government says it will distribute 4.5 million insecticide-treated nets to 1.8 million households. Aishatu Abubakar-Sadiq, the permanent secretary of the health ministry, stated this at a news conference on Wednesday in Kaduna.
She said the exercise billed to be held from June 30 to July 3 is being implemented in collaboration between the state government, the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Catholic Relief Services, the Society for Family Health, and the Malaria Consortium.
“The distribution campaign is one of the major strategies to deliver nets to the general populace and Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention. “Nigeria’s key strategy plan for vector control is to improve access and utilisation of vector control interventions to at least 80 per cent of the targeted population by 2025,” she said.
Click here to read more
SFH ACTIVITIES
SFH Hosts ePharma4FP Dissemination Event in Lagos
Society for Family Health (SFH) held a high-level dissemination event for its ePharma4FP project on 24 June 2025 at Sheraton Lagos Hotel, marking a significant step in advancing digital access to family planning (FP) services in Lagos State. The event convened key government officials, private sector actors, and development partners to share insights, achievements, and future directions of the project.
ePharma4FP, designed to expand access to FP commodities through digital platforms, aims to provide women with safe, informed, and convenient contraceptive options. In her remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Mrs Olukemi Ogunyemi, reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment to inclusive healthcare, noting that “digital innovation is key to ensuring every woman can access timely and confidential reproductive health services.”
SFH’s Deputy Managing Directors, Dr Jennifer Anyanti and Pharm. Kenechukwu Eruchalu, led the host team, while Dr Uchenna Okafor, Chief of Party, presented key findings. She highlighted the role of digital health in closing access gaps, driven by increased internet connectivity and mobile use. Stakeholders from the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Primary Health Care Board, CHAI, DKT International, the Gates foundation, and others endorsed the initiative’s alignment with broader goals of universal health coverage.
The event reinforced a shared vision for removing barriers to contraception, improving maternal health, and delivering people-centred services through digital channels.
SFH distributes 88,800 P&G water purifier to 300 households in Mokwa, Niger State
Following the severe flooding that claimed 208 lives in Mokwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, affecting over 200 households, access to clean and safe water has become a major challenge, raising concerns over the potential outbreak of waterborne diseases. In response, Society for Family Health (SFH) swiftly mobilised to support the affected communities with water purification products and public health messaging.
As part of this intervention, SFH presented 88,800 sachets of P&G water purifiers, which are being distributed across 300 households in Mokwa. The Deputy Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Comrade Yakuba Garba, who received the generous donation during the state government’s official presentation of relief items and cash gifts to affected households and next of kin of the deceased in Mokwa LGA, expressed appreciation for SFH prompt response and reiterated the state government’s willingness to collaborate on improving public health outcomes. “We are grateful for this timely support from SFH, and we will ensure that the donated P&G water purifier gets to the beneficiaries,” He said.
Earlier, SFH delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Permanent Secretary of Niger State Ministry of Water Resources and Dams Development, Mr Akilu Musa Kuta. The delegation, led by W4HL Coordinator Nnamdi Anosike, alongside WASH Specialist (FMWRS) Charles Olusoji and SFH Communications Senior Associate Isi Ikhimiukor, provided an update on ongoing WASH emergency activities and discussed collaborative strategies to ensure the success and sustainability of the intervention.
To ensure last-mile distribution, SFH will be visiting the affected communities in Mokwa to conduct community sensitisation sessions on the proper use of the water purifiers. The team will engage community members on key hygiene practices and the importance of maintaining access to clean and safe water for the health and well-being of their households. This outreach forms a critical part of SFH broader WASH in Emergency response, ensuring that donated supplies are used effectively and sustainably.
SFH Nigeria Joins African Partners in Strategic Push to End Paediatric AIDS by 2030
Society for Family Health (SFH) Nigeria, through its partnership in the Aidsfonds consortium, played a prominent role at the 2025 Paediatric Breakthrough Partnership (PBP) Annual Meeting held this June in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Hosted at Star Land Hotel, the meeting convened implementing partners, government officials, and civil society actors from Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Cameroon. Funded by ViiV Healthcare, the PBP unites EGPAF, PATA, UNICEF, and Aidsfonds/SFH to accelerate progress in paediatric HIV prevention, treatment, and care across sub-Saharan Africa.
The annual gathering served as a platform to review national and regional progress, tackle persistent barriers in paediatric HIV programming, and co-create a roadmap beyond the current funding cycle. Participants engaged in cross-country learning on Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), viral load suppression, and innovations around quality improvement and age of consent.
Representing SFH Nigeria, Aisha Dadi led strategic reflections that underscored the country’s successes in integrating community models such as Kidz Clubs and Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA), while also calling attention to gaps in policy, particularly Nigeria’s high age of consent for HIV services currently at 18 years, significantly higher than some other African countries with lower thresholds between 12 and 14 years.
A key outcome of the meeting was renewed commitment among partners to strengthen collaboration, integrate HIV services into national systems, and deepen country ownership post-2026. SFH Nigeria reaffirmed its leadership in driving community-centred, data-driven approaches that prioritise children and adolescents. The meeting closed on a high note with energising site visits to paediatric HIV service delivery points in Cameroon, and a surprise lunch break appearance by football legend Samuel Eto’o, offering a unifying moment for all participants. The message from Yaoundé was clear: partnerships like PBP remain critical to delivering an Africa where every child is born and raised free of HIV.
SFH Unites Male Leaders to Champion Family Planning in Gombe
In a move to boost reproductive health in Gombe State, influential male leaders from Kundulum (Akko LGA) and Kaltungo LGA convened to champion family planning (FP), marking a shift in traditional community health leadership. Organised by the IntegratE Project in Gombe State, the two-day Male Involvement Meetings brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, community gatekeepers, and trained FP providers. It was hosted by Mallam Hamma Seyo Manu, Dakachi of Kundulum, and Alh. Ahmadu Ibrahim, District Head of Kaltungo West, the sessions were coordinated by Interpersonal Communication Agents (IPCAs).
Recognising men’s vital role in household decisions, the meetings aimed to dispel FP myths and reposition men as key partners in reproductive health. A total of 112 men 60 in Kaltungo and 52 in Akko participated actively.Christine Abelagi, State Technical Adviser, gave an overview of the IntegratE project and highlighted the safety and benefits of various FP methods for men, women, and families. She emphasised the role of trained Community Pharmacists and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) in providing services.
Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant, Mr Benjamin Laban, reinforced the importance of male involvement and introduced the FP green dot signage used to identify trained providers. IntegratE continues to support community-driven action for healthier and more resilient families in Gombe.
SFH Participates in the 2025 National Malaria Programme Review to Shape Future Strategic Direction
Society for Family Health (SFH) is actively participating in the ongoing 2025 National Malaria Programme Review (MPR), taking place from June 23rd to 27th at the Grand Bohabs Hotel in Mabushi, Abuja. The high-level meeting, convened by the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), brings together key stakeholders including the World Health Organization (WHO), PATH, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Malaria Consortium (MC), Management Sciences for Health (MSH), State Malaria Elimination Programmes (SMEPs), private sector partners, and development organizations.
The 2025 MPR serves as a comprehensive assessment of Nigeria’s malaria response over the past strategic period. It aims to evaluate progress, identify challenges and gaps, and draw lessons to inform the development of a robust and responsive National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP) for the next five years (2026–2030). The review focuses on key thematic areas such as service delivery, case management, surveillance, supply chain, social behaviour change (SBC), and integrated vector management (IVM).
SFH is providing technical leadership in reviewing three critical thematic components: Social and Behaviour Change, Case Management, and Integrated Vector Management. Drawing from its extensive implementation experience across multiple states, SFH is contributing evidence-based insights and recommendations to strengthen community engagement, improve access to effective malaria treatment, and enhance the efficiency of vector control strategies.
“This review is a crucial step in aligning Nigeria’s malaria response with emerging trends, global best practices, and local realities,” said an SFH representative at the event. “Our support to the thematic reviews reflects our continued commitment to a malaria-free Nigeria.”
Outcomes from the MPR will guide the formulation of a new strategic plan that aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to achieving malaria elimination and advancing universal health coverage. The presence of diverse partners underscores the multisectoral approach required to combat malaria effectively and sustainably.
The National Malaria Strategic Plan 2026–2030, once finalised, will serve as the cornerstone for programming, resource mobilisation, and stakeholder coordination across all levels of government and development partners.
IntegratE Southern Region Holds Mid-Year Retreat
The IntegratE Southern region recently conducted its Mid-year retreat to assess programme activities, address emerging challenges, share best practices, and strengthen staff capacity, while collaboratively developing work plans for the months ahead.The meeting opened with welcome remarks from Regional Programme Manager, Jennifer Ladokun, who stressed the value of reflection and collaboration. Mr Sikiru Baruwa, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, delivered opening remarks on behalf of the Deputy Chief of Party.
Goodwill messages were shared by key stakeholders, including Poluyi Olawale, Director of Pharmaceutical Services (Lagos State Ministry of Health), who affirmed their active role in the IntegratE project. Others lending their support included Ogidan Olayiwola (Pharmacy Council of Nigeria), Dr Ademiluyi Adenike (Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board), Aluko Dorcas (Family Planning Unit), and Pharm Adegboyo (Lagos State Health District).
Jennifer Ladokun presented advocacy progress from October 2024 to May 2025, while State Technical Advisor, Ochepo Sani, shared service delivery updates and lessons learned from Lagos and Enugu States. Kolawole Oni, Regional M&E Advisor, provided insights on indicator tracking, research, and gap analysis.Capacity-building sessions featured Delafrida Ukaga on human interest storytelling, Toyin Akomolafe on abstract and manuscript writing, and Ibukun Mary (People Operations) on organisational policies and safeguarding. The Finance Team provided updates on finance and audit, and Veronica Obi from AskNivi showcased digital outreach successes.
Teams participated in breakout sessions to develop and align state-level work plans. The retreat concluded with a closing remark from the Lagos State Director of Pharmaceutical Services, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to advancing reproductive health through the IntegratE project.
SFH-DISC, FMOH&SW and Adamawa State Collaborate to Enhance Family Planning Services
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOH&SW), in collaboration with Society for Family Health (SFH) under the DISC 2.0 project, led a joint Supportive Supervision Visit (SSV) to Adamawa State this June 2025. The mission, which included representatives from the State Ministry of Health and ASPHCDA, focused on improving the quality of family planning (FP) services in Yola North, Yola South, Girei, Demsa, and Fufore LGAs.
Led by Mrs Joy Aungwa (National Self-Care Focal Person, FMOH&SW) and Jennifer Adebambo (SFH DISC 2.0), the team held advocacy meetings with the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Chief B. Felix Tangwami, and the Executive Chairman of ASPHCDA, Dr Sulaiman Bashir. Key discussions centred on the domestication of the National DMPA-SC and Self-Injection Expansion Strategy to align with the state’s maternal health goals.
The Commissioner and Chairman reaffirmed the state’s commitment to policy adoption, sustainable financing, and strengthening FP logistics. Promises were made to improve data tracking, redistribute commodities, and collaborate with the Strengthening Access to Reproductive Health and Rights (SARAH) project to strengthen FP logistics and service uptake for improved women’s and girls’ health.
Facility assessments across the five LGAs reviewed service quality, privacy, and data reporting. The team provided on-the-spot mentorship for providers, while The State and LGA MCH Directors are to address commodity supply and redistribution issues in affected facilities, and SFH is to support the provision of counselling job aids. This joint effort reinforced the critical role of collaboration in expanding access to safe, client-focused family planning services for women and girls in Adamawa.
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
Save the Date: Breaking Barriers
Join this webinar on 2nd July 2025 for a rich, cross-country conversation on how A360 is engaging household-level key influencers, i.e., husbands, mothers, mothers-in-law, religious leaders, and others, to transform the norms that shape adolescent girls’ access to contraception.
Webinar title: Breaking Barriers: Engaging household-level key influencers to transform social norms for adolescent contraceptive use
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 pm EAT | 1:00 – 2:00 pm WAT | 8:00 – 9:00 am EST
Together with teams from Kenya, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, the webinar will unpack approaches, share lessons, and explore what it takes to create truly enabling environments for adolescent reproductive health.
Whether you work in health, behaviour change, or community engagement, this is a space for learning, reflection, and exchange.
Register to join us: https://shorturl.at/GmLXH
Join Us at the Africa Digital Health Summit 2025!
We are proud to be part of the 5th Africa Digital Health Summit (ADHS 2025), happening at Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos, from 26th–27th June 2025.
Be part of Lagos Hour, a dedicated feature session that highlights the visionary digital health transformation under the theme: “Smart Health for a Smart City: How Lagos is Transforming Access, Delivery, and Equity in Healthcare.”
Be part of Lagos Hour, a dedicated feature session that highlights the visionary digital health transformation under the theme: “Smart Health for a Smart City: How Lagos is Transforming Access, Delivery, and Equity in Healthcare.”
This dynamic session will be moderated by our Deputy Managing Director, Society for Family Health (SFH), Dr. Jennifer Anyanti and promises high-level insights into the policies, platforms, and partnerships shaping the future of healthcare in Lagos.
As a proud Strategic Partner, SFH ACCESS will also showcase digital health in action, offering free telemedicine consultations via the ACCESS app to all participants who visit our stand. We will also have other projects like Epharma4FP Project Team and some staff will feature in other sessions.
As a proud Strategic Partner, SFH ACCESS will also showcase digital health in action, offering free telemedicine consultations via the ACCESS app to all participants who visit our stand. We will also have other projects like Epharma4FP Project Team and some staff will feature in other sessions.
This is a great opportunity to engage, learn, and experience how SFH is partaking in digital innovation, expanding access and transforming healthcare across Africa.
Weekly Quotes/Nuggets
Love to read previous News Reports?
- Hey, amazing content for you to engage with on all our social media platforms. We would love to see your comments, likes and reactions.😍
Feel free to also share our posts.
