Born from the work, since 1985.
One of the founding principles of SFH was to promote and support the practice of child spacing through family planning, spacing births for three to five years to allow children to develop and grow while mothers recover between pregnancies. Over the years we have strengthened our capacity to deliver high-impact family planning and social-franchise programmes that address the unmet need for family planning, through the education and empowerment of couples with information, services, and products for both modern and natural birth-spacing methods.
Six goals guide the work.
The SFH Family Planning Division works toward six goals, each one informed by what Nigerian couples and frontline health providers tell us they need.
Increase knowledge of modern child-spacing methods among couples of reproductive age.
Increase positive attitudes and understanding of the importance of child-spacing products.
Improve inter-spousal communication among couples.
Increase the number of women using modern methods.
Improve the capacity of healthcare providers to offer correct child-spacing information and services.
Contribute to a national reduction in maternal mortality.
Programmes that have shaped the work.
Three flagship programmes delivered across Nigeria with partners from USAID, PSI, and the wider donor community.
IRHIN
Improved Reproductive Health in Nigeria Project
A six-year programme advancing understanding, accessibility, and proper application of contraceptives. IRHIN tackled unintended pregnancies and supported MDG 5, reducing maternal mortality and raising awareness about population management and child spacing.
WHP
Women’s Health Project
A five-year programme operating across 19 states and the FCT, targeting maternal-mortality reduction. WHP expanded access to longer-acting contraception (IUCDs and implants) for women aged 18 to 45, and added prevention and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage using Misoprostol during labour management.
ESMPIN
Expanded Social Marketing Project in Nigeria
A five-year, multi-partner programme that enhanced access to family planning, reproductive health, and child-health products, while promoting healthy behaviours and exploring the viability of local manufacturing for key health commodities.
More about our thematic work.
See the other seven programme areas SFH Nigeria delivers across the country, or read the strategy guiding the next four years.