SFH Nigeria Website 
News and Photo Stories – Week 8
SFH IN THE NEWS
Kwara govt calls on devt partners to key into SWAp Initiative
TheInformant247, 17 Feb 2025
Kwara State Government, through the Ministry of Health, has called on health development partners to form a synergy, keying into its Annual Operational Plan and the State-Wide Approach (SWAp) initiative to achieve a common goal. Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, the State Commissioner for Health, while making the call on Monday, Ilorin, during a Health Partners Coordination held at the Ministry headquarters, charged the development partners to work as a team to speak with one voice.
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Oyo receives 22,200 data tools to boost healthcare
Punch, 18 Feb 2025
The Oyo State Government has received 22,200 units of data tools for distribution to healthcare facilities across the 33 local government areas in the state. The Society for Family Health, in collaboration with Population Services International, handed over the data tools in Ibadan, the state capital, on Monday.
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SFH launches SWIFT project to combat maternal mortality
Business Day, 19 Feb 2025
The Society for Family Health (SFH), Nigeria, has launched the Supporting Women’s Increased Access to Family Planning through Pharmacies and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (SWIFT) project. The initiative aims to reduce maternal mortality and promote women’s economic empowerment. The SWIFT project seeks to enhance access to family planning services through pharmacies and medicine vendors, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes for women and supporting their economic independence. Click here to read more
SFH ACTIVITIES
SFH joined Kano State Government and Partners to Host the Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare alongside President, Global Development Director of Gates Foundation in Kano State
The team also visited the Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Yusuf, represented by Secretary to the State Government, Alh. Faruq Umar Ibrahim. The Coordinating Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, applauded the state government’s investment in health and expressed readiness to collaborate with development agencies to crash maternal mortality and eradicate poliovirus in Kano state. He commended the state for establishing the first subnational Centre for Disease Control to strengthen disease surveillance. Professor Pate hinted that despite the efforts, the resurgence of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus and fake finger marking of children during immunisation campaigns in Kano was threatening the success recorded in the last 10 years. The minister also indicated the commitment of the federal government to support Kano with the supply of vaccines and provide emergency transportation and free treatment of emergency cases for pregnant mothers. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf reiterated the commitment of his administration to partner with the federal government and partners to improve healthcare delivery in the state. He expressed readiness to sustain collaboration with the Gates Foundation and Aliko Dangote Foundation to check the lapses in the fight against the virus. The team visited selected primary, secondary, and tertiary health facilities within the state.
SFH Donates 22,200 Units of Family Planning Data Tools to Oyo State
The DISC Oyo team, led by the project’s Business Development Strategist, Fidelis Edet, and the Country Technical Advisor for PSI, Dr Solomon Odafe, conducted a data quality assessment across health facilities in Oyo State from February 10th to 12th, 2025. This assessment aimed to ensure accurate documentation at all levels as implementation efforts progress across the state, emphasising that what is not documented is considered undone. Also in attendance were the State M&E Officer, LGA M&E Officer, LGA FP Coordinator, DISC State M&E Officer, and facility staff. After the assessment, a debriefing meeting was held with the Primary Health Care Board which had the principal officers from the Board in attendance. This meeting provided an opportunity to review the result of the assessment and discuss the way forward. Given the challenges of a growing population and staff attrition, self-care remains a crucial innovation to reduce the burden on the health system. Oyo State has shown progressive improvement in the level of awareness, adoption, and documentation of family planning innovations.
Hence, the pivotal role of quality data in telling a comprehensive story of the work that is being done and driving informed decision-making was reiterated. Mr Fidelis, in his address, commended the state’s impressive FP data reporting capacity and emphasised the need for continuous capacity building to maintain and improve these standards. To strengthen family planning (FP) data management and service delivery, the DISC-SFH team and PSI donated 22,200 units of family planning data tools to Oyo State. This contribution will enhance the quality and accuracy of FP reporting and ensure comprehensive data collection at the facility level. The donation includes 15,000 Client Cards, 600 Monthly Summary Forms (MSF), 600 Family Planning Registers (FP Register), 500 Daily Consumption Registers (DCR), 5,000 Stock Cards and 500 Requisition Issue and Receipt Forms (RIRF). Speaking during the meeting with the state stakeholders, Dr Solomon, T.A. for PSI, stated that this contribution is our way of saying, “Keep up the good work.” Our continued support reaffirms our commitment to ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all through data-driven decision-making, enhanced service delivery, and strengthened health systems nationwide.
SWIFT Project Strengthens Family Planning Access in Kano with Stakeholders’ Inception Meeting
The Supporting Women Increased Access to Family Planning Through Pharmacies and PPMVs (SWIFT) project recently convened a stakeholders’ inception meeting in Kano State. The meeting brought together over 100 key stakeholders to discuss the project’s strategies, expected impact, and opportunities for collaboration to drive sustainable healthcare solutions. The gathering provided a platform for engaging with policymakers, regulatory bodies, and development partners to ensure the successful implementation of the project. In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health (SMOH), representing the Honourable Commissioner for Health, emphasised that the SWIFT intervention will empower women to provide family planning services, improving service delivery and reducing maternal mortality in Kano State. The Director of Pharmaceutical Services reinforced this, highlighting the urgent need for strengthened family planning services given the high maternal mortality rates in the state.
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Weekly Quotes/Nuggets
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