SFH Nigeria Website 
News and Photo Stories -Week 5
SFH IN THE NEWS
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to achieving zero maternal mortality in Nigeria, emphasizing the role of family planning (FP) programs in realizing this goal. Dr. Samuel Oyeniyi, Director of the Reproductive Health Division at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the End of Project Dissemination Meeting for the Catalytic Opportunity Funds (COF) Hormonal Intra-Uterine Devices (IUD) Scale-Up Project…The Lead for Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent, Elderly Health, and Nutrition (RMNCAEH+N) at the Society for Family Health (SFH), Mrs Roseline Odeh, emphasised the importance of partnerships and collaboration in meeting Nigeria’s family planning target of 27 per cent contraceptive prevalence by 2030.
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Bauchi: SFH Intensifies Stakeholder Engagement on DISC 2.0, Child Spacing Strategies
Timely Post, 28 Jan 2025
Participants and other relevant stakeholders at the community orientation meeting organized by the Society for Family Health (SFH), in collaboration with the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board (BSPHCB), have reaffirmed their support and commitment to promoting and advocating for the Delivering Innovation in Self-care (DISC 2.0) project. The orientation meeting, which were conducted across 18 implementing local government areas in Bauchi State, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including traditional and religious leaders, Ward Development Committees (WDCs), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), representatives of women’s support groups, individuals with disabilities, Mama2Mama, and the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN).
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SFH ACTIVITIES
SFH Hosts Kenyan Ministry of Health and InSupply Team for Learning Visit
Society for Family Health (SFH) Nigeria welcomed representatives from Kenya’s Ministry of Health and InSupply, an East African health advisory firm, on a courtesy visit to its headquarters at Abuja. This visit marks the start of a weeklong learning programme from the 27th – 31st January 2025, aimed at optimising the pharmacy channel. The delegation seeks to gain deeper insights into effective healthcare delivery through community pharmacies, Patent and Proprietary or Medicine Vendors (PPMVs), and drug shops in Nigeria. During their stay, the team will explore successful models and strategies that have enhanced the role of community pharmacies and PPMVs in healthcare delivery.
This includes learning from SFH’s IntegratE project and its Tiered Accreditation System. Discussions with key stakeholders, including Nigeria’s health sector leaders, professional bodies, and sub-national actors, will offer practical lessons on innovative approaches, challenges, and best practices in the Nigerian context. The visit highlights the significance of cross-country collaboration in strengthening health systems and improving healthcare outcomes. By fostering partnerships and knowledge-sharing, both nations aim to advance sustainable solutions for better health service delivery, contributing to the broader goal of achieving universal health coverage.
SFH COF Project hold End of Project Dissemination Meeting in Abuja
The Catalytic Opportunity Fund (COF) Hormonal IUD Scale-Up Project, implemented by Society for Family Health (SFH) in Delta and Kano States, was designed to expand access to hormonal intrauterine devices (H-IUDs), enhance Family Planning (FP) services, and strengthen FP data systems. The project aimed to improve the quality of family planning services in Nigeria by strengthening existing H-IUD training structures in the implementing states and increasing access to this long-term contraceptive method.During the one-year intervention (January – December 2024), the project trained 220 service providers (110 per state) on H-IUD service provision, significantly improving access to public health facilities. In Delta State, facility access increased from 7% to 28%, while Kano State saw an increase from 5% to 13%. SFH deployed a cost-effective digital training model through the Kassai platform, developed in partnership with FHI 360 and PSI, and validated by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. 100 community volunteers (50 per state) were engaged and equipped with tools and materials for FP demand generation, activating a robust community mobilisation structure. In collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the COF project held its End of Project Dissemination meeting today at The Palms Hotel, Abuja. The meeting brought together stakeholders, partners, the State Ministry of Health and project staff to share outcomes, key findings, challenges encountered, and recommendations for sustaining and scaling the impact of the project in Nigeria. Representatives from the FP Team (Kano and Delta), CCSImpact, DKT, EngenderHealth, CHAI, and Jhpiego delivered goodwill messages.
SFH Deputy Managing Director, Pharm. Kene Eruchalu, extended a warm welcome to partners, expressing gratitude for their contributions and support to the project. He emphasised that the dissemination meeting provided a valuable platform to share challenges and gain insights to advance the intervention. Dr Samuel Oyeniyi, Director of Reproductive Health, commended SFH for its impactful work in the family planning and maternal health space. He highlighted the need for expanded implementation efforts to achieve more impact in family planning and outlined existing gaps that need to be addressed for sustained progress. Dr Eze Nwokoma, the project coordinator, presented an overview of the SFH COF project’s innovative approach to capacity building through digital training for family planning providers. He noted some of the results of the digital training as an over 80% reduction in didactic training costs compared to traditional methods with a high completion rate. The enrollment rate on the Kassai platform was over 97% with users in both states generally reporting finishing the course within four days, and all 220 trainees demonstrated competence in H-IUD insertion following clinical practice sessions. One of the highlights of the meeting was the commitment of FMoH/SW to incorporate digital learning into the proposed revision of RH Policy documents. Society for Family Health remains committed to advancing reproductive health solutions and driving evidence-based innovations to address Nigeria’s family planning needs effectively.
SFH Global Fund Malaria Unit Host a Malaria Devolution Strategic Meeting
Society for Family Health (SFH) Global Fund Malaria Unit hosted a pivotal meeting on the 24th of January 2025 in Keffi, Nasarawa State. The gathering brought together Programme Managers and Accountants from Adamawa, Delta, Kaduna, and Kano States to deliberate on the devolution of grant activities to the State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP). This strategic move, aimed at promoting efficiency and ownership, marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against malaria. In his opening remarks, Mr John Ocholi, the GF Malaria Project Director, emphasised the transformative potential of devolution. “Devolution fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and trust within organisations,” he stated. “It is not just about transferring responsibilities but about empowering states to take ownership and actively participate in the fight to end malaria.” The meeting provided a platform for participants to engage in meaningful discussions about how the devolution strategy could enhance the implementation of malaria elimination activities at the state level. With Nigeria bearing a significant malaria burden globally, this approach seeks to ensure that states are not only stakeholders but also active drivers of the malaria elimination agenda.
Key highlights of the devolution strategy include building the capacity of state teams, streamlining processes to improve efficiency, and fostering accountability at every level. SFH reaffirmed its commitment to providing the necessary technical support to states during this transition. The organisation’s vision is to create an environment where states are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to implement impactful malaria elimination programmes. Participants expressed optimism about the strategy. “This approach gives us a sense of ownership and accountability,” said a Programme Manager from Delta State. “We are more motivated to see the success of the programme because we now have a direct role in its implementation.” SFH’s devolution strategy is driven by the belief that sustainable change can only happen when local actors are fully involved in the process. By entrusting states with greater responsibility, SFH aims to accelerate progress toward its ultimate goal: a malaria-free Nigeria. As the meeting concluded, SFH and its partners set the stage for a new era in Nigeria’s malaria elimination efforts—one where states take the lead, supported by the expertise and dedication of SFH and the Global Fund. Together, we are proving that when ownership meets collaboration, the vision of a malaria-free future becomes attainable.
SFH Empowers 20 people through Village Savings and Loans Association in Taraba State.
The Lafiyan Yara project in Taraba conducted a 3-Day training and formation of the Village Savings and Loans Association in Karim Lamido Local Government area of Taraba State. The training took place from the 22nd to 25th of January 2025 at NUT Hall, Karim Lamido LGA. The training aimed to equip the participants with the basic knowledge needed to improve their businesses and also provide seed capital to boost their financial capacity. The training focused on 20 parents and caregivers of Children Living with HIV (CALHIV) in the LGA who faced challenges such as unsuppressed viral load, frequently missed drug refills, and financial constraints that hindered their access to healthcare facilities for medication and other essential services, impacting their health outcomes.
Mrs Aisha Dadi, the Project Director noted that SFH is committed to placing the needs of children at the forefront of its mission, stating that this initiative aims to ensure that all children living with HIV receive the necessary care and treatment to thrive. She highlighted that strengthening the economic stability of parents and caregivers of CALHIV will enable them to meet their children’s basic needs and improve health outcomes, including viral load suppression. The participants were equipped with the basic knowledge of Village Savings and Loans, business management, adherence, stigma, and discrimination and a seed grant of Seventy thousand Naira each was provided to the beneficiaries to boost their business activities and improve their economic levels. The Local Government Chairmen of both the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Muslim Council of Nigeria (MCON) commended SFH for their contributions to improving the healthcare system in the state, especially among people living with HIV. They added that the project has positively impacted the lives of children/adolescents, pregnant women/lactating mothers living with HIV in the state. The traditional leaders also expressed their willingness to support the project by providing an enabling environment for a successful implementation of the project in the local government.
Weekly Quotes/Nuggets
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