Society for Family Health Nigeria

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SFH COF Project, in collaboration with the Kano State Ministry of Health, held a two-day town hall meeting with stakeholders from 16th to 17th October 2024 in Kano State. The meeting aimed to promote sustainable interventions by integrating the project's successes to enhance access to child spacing services and expand contraceptive options in the state. Participants at the meeting included representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Ministry of Women Affairs, alongside Traditional Rulers, Ward Development Committee members, Women Leaders, Youth Champions, and implementing partners including Marie Stopes International (MSI) and the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC). In his address, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Shehu Sani Shehu commended SFH for its significant contributions through the COF project and other initiatives in Kano. He emphasised the importance of engaging stakeholders and communities at the planning stage to ensure successful project implementation. He explained that the decision to prioritise child spacing services for married women was made after careful consideration. He further noted, “Given the current economic realities, child spacing services should be encouraged. If we continue having children without the means to care for and guide them, they risk becoming a burden and threat to society.” Stakeholders at the meeting actively discussed child spacing options and pledged to use every available platform, both in their communities and at various meetings, to promote awareness of the importance of child spacing. This engagement aligns with the SFH-COF Hormonal IUD scale-up project, which collaborates with federal and state health ministries to build healthcare providers’ capacity, support demand generation efforts, and strengthen data systems. The COF project, implemented in Delta and Kano states, aims to improve access to Hormonal IUDs and enhance the quality of FP services across Nigeria. #FP #IUD

Scaling Self-Care and Reproductive Health in Kwara State: The DISC 2.0 Project The Society for Family Health Nigeria, through its DISCinNigeria 2.0 project, continues to strengthen its partnership with the Kwara State Government towards enhancing women’s access to self-injectable contraceptives. Building on the success of DISC 1.0, which ran from August 2022 to June 2024 across 5 Local Government Areas (LGAs), DISCinNigeria 2.0 is scaling up to cover all 16 LGAs in the state. This expansion empowers women to take control of their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) through innovative self-care solutions. To set the stage for DISC 2.0, SFH hosted a two-day co-creation workshop and demand generation training from October 10th to 11th, 2024, in Ilorin. The event brought together stakeholders from government, healthcare, civil society, Ilorin Emirate, and health promotion officers from the 16 LGAs to align on strategies and project goals. The Honourable Commissioner of Health for Kwara State, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, lauded SFH for its commitment to scaling up the initiative across all LGAs. She emphasized that DISC 2.0 aligns with the state’s vision of enhancing women’s reproductive health services and ensuring greater equity in access. This expansion, reaching over 300 facilities across the state, represents a significant step forward in improving SRH outcomes for women and girls in Kwara State. SFH’s close collaboration with the Kwara State Ministry of Health is aimed at strengthening the overall health system, ensuring sustainable and long-term benefits for the population. Following the presentation of a family planning readiness assessment conducted across 372 government health facilities, Dr. El-Imam pledged that the state would prioritize employing and training providers on contraceptive technologies and providing necessary equipment to deficient facilities. She also committed to supporting the expansion of the method mix to include self-care contraception options, thus enhancing family planning (FP) access and equity for households. Dr. El-Imam also stressed the importance of male and interfaith engagement, acknowledging Kwara’s cultural and religious context, where men often play key roles in household decision-making. DISC 2.0 is expanding contraceptive access, through the training of all 16 LGA family planning coordinators and selected secondary health facility as Master trainers who will cascade to other facility providers. The training, holding from October 14th to 16th, 2024 is focused on empathetic counselling for DMPA-SC/SI and the "Counselling for Choice" strategy to ensure that women make informed and autonomous decisions in a supportive environment. SFH is excited to explore opportunities for partnerships with other RH/FP programs in the state to further enhance access to reproductive health services for women and adolescents in Kwara State. Population Services International Anthony Nwala Oluwatosin Fakayode

In a bid to reduce the incidence of malaria, Society for Family Health Nigeria (SFH), in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and GRID 3, has begun preparations for the 2024 Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) mass distribution campaign in Ogun State. The campaign kicked off with a National Training of Trainers (NToT) from October 11th to 13th, 2024, aimed at equipping national stakeholders with the necessary skills and strategies for the campaign's success.   An entry meeting was held on October 14th, 2024, with the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr Mrs Tomi Coker, and other top officials of the Ogun State Ministry of Health. During the meeting, Mr John Ocholi led the SFH delegation and delivered a speech on behalf of SFH Managing Director, Dr Omokhudu Idogho, highlighting the importance of the campaign in the fight against malaria and reducing the burden of malaria. Dr Coker, in her remarks, reaffirmed the Ogun State Government's commitment to combating malaria and ensuring the success of the ITN distribution campaign.   Following the entry meeting, SFH conducted the State Training of Trainers (SToT) from October 15th to 16th, 2024 at Mokland Hotel, Abeokuta. The training aimed at enhancing the capacity of state technical assistants and Local Government Area (LGA) coordinators on the strategies required for the successful implementation of the ITN mass distribution campaign across the state. The campaign is expected to distribute about 2,875,369 free ITNs across Ogun State to help protect residents from malaria, a disease that continues to pose a significant public health threat in Nigeria. #EndMalaria #ITN

Every year, October 15th is celebrated as Global Handwashing Day, an international advocacy day dedicated to promoting the importance of handwashing with soap as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. This year’s theme, "Why are clean hands still important?" highlights the importance of hand hygiene as a basic right for everyone, regardless of background or living conditions. At the Society for Family Health Nigeria, we understand the importance of hygiene in promoting health and well-being in our communities. Through the WASH for Healthy Lives (W4HL) Project, we are making significant strides in improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices in vulnerable communities. As we celebrate this day, let’s commit to making handwashing with soap a universal practice, helping to reduce the burden of preventable diseases in our communities. Clean hands truly save lives, and we can ensure that this basic practice is available to everyone #KeepHandsClean #GlobalHandwashingDay #GlobalHandwashingDay2024

Society for Family Health Nigeria has successfully completed the microplanning phase for the upcoming Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITN) mass distribution campaign in Delta State. The microplanning exercise, which began on 25th September and concluded on 7th October 2024, was led by SFH Project Director for The Global Fund Malaria, Mr John Ocholi who kicked off the process with an entry meeting at the Delta State Ministry of Health in Asaba. During the entry meeting, the Project Director highlighted the importance of collaboration in ensuring the success of the ITN campaign. "Our goal is to ensure that every household in Delta State receives treated nets to protect against malaria. This microplanning phase is crucial to the success of the campaign, and we are committed to working hand in hand with the state ministry and local partners to reach every corner of the state," he said. The Director of Public Health at the Delta State Ministry of Health Dr Christian Tetsola expressed appreciation for SFH role in the campaign, noting, "We are confident that with SFH expertise and the support of our team, we will achieve a seamless distribution process. The commitment to reducing malaria in Delta State is unwavering, and this microplanning exercise is a vital step forward." The microplanning phase also included a two-day training for State Technical Assistants, who were tasked with supporting data collection in all Local Government Areas (LGAs). Over the course of four days, detailed data was collected across the state to ensure accurate planning for the upcoming mass distribution. Other activities carried out during the microplanning included Advocacy to the Hon. Commissioner of Health, Delta State Ministry of Health, security agencies, inauguration of ITN Campaign Coordinating Network (ICCN) made up of representatives from key organisations, MDAs, traditional and religious institutions. The process culminated in a two-day data validation and debriefing meeting, attended by officials from the Delta State Ministry of Health, led by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Philomena Okeowo. During the closing session, the Permanent Secretary commended SFH for a well-executed microplanning exercise, stating, "We deeply appreciate SFH dedication and professionalism throughout this phase. The level of precision in planning and data collection ensures that we are well-prepared for a successful ITN distribution campaign." As the ITN mass distribution campaign moves to the next stage, SFH remains committed to ensuring that every household in Delta State has access to life-saving nets. With the collaborative efforts of the state and partners, the fight against malaria in Delta is set to reach new heights. #HealthforAll #ITN #EndMalaria

Society for Family Health Nigeria joins the global community in recognising the importance of World Mental Health Day. SFH reaffirms its commitment to advocating for the decriminalisation of attempted suicide in Nigeria—an essential step towards improving mental health care for all, particularly the youth. This message was delivered by the Managing Director of Society for Family Health, Dr Omokhudu Idogho, who was represented by Aisha Dadi, Director of Paediatric and Adolescent HIV Programmes. The Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, was ably represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr Chukwuma ANYAIKE MD, FWACP, DTM H, MCommH, FCAI, at the Suicide Decriminalisation Conference, which was chaired by Senator Dr Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe. She further reiterated that SFH stands ready to support the government in implementing programmes that will improve the quality of life for young people and the wider community. By decriminalising suicide and expanding mental health services, we offer hope instead of punishment and healing instead of harm. #worldmentalhealthday #suicideprevention

It is World Mental Health Day! As an organisation, we understand that mental well-being is important in fostering a productive and supportive work environment. The theme for this year, Mental Health at Work, highlights the need to prioritise mental health in every workplace, ensuring that all staff and employees have access to the care, support, and resources they need and deserve. At SFH, we have created a people-centred, workplace culture where mental health is recognised, respected and championed for everyone. As we move forward, we will continue to raise awareness, promote open conversations and support a more inclusive workplace where mental health is prioritised. #WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealthAtWork #SFHCares

For Sani, a Tier 2 PPMV in Zaria LGA, Kaduna state, the PACS Project has been transformative, opening new avenues for business growth, delivery of care, and community impact. Before the PACS intervention, Sani faced numerous challenges running his business such as frequent stock-outs of medicines which necessitated his reliance on the open drug market and exposed him to the risk of purchasing substandard health commodities. The lack of access to financing limited his capacity to expand his stock, affecting his ability to serve more communities and grow his business. Click here to read how the PACS Project is transforming and empowering lives: https://lnkd.in/eM2tnqZv

In line with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has mandated State Health Ministries and MDAs to prepare their Annual Operational Plans (AOPs) in alignment with the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint (HSSB) 2023-2027 and Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) initiative. The sector-wide medium-term strategic plan which aligns with Nigeria’s National Development Plan and Global Health Agenda is aimed at bringing health stakeholders under One Plan, One Budget, One Report and One Conversation to build a more cohesive, effective and sustainable health sector. Society for Family Health Nigeria as a leader in the reproductive and family health space across the 36 States and FCT in Nigeria has placed emphasis on this activity with its projects actively supporting the exercise across the country. SFH Director of Health Systems Strengthening and Northwest Regional Programme lead, Dayyabu Mahmud Yusuf and SFH Head of Clinical Services, Dr Eze Nwokoma MPH led Project Teams in the exercise at the Kano State AOP, ensuring SFH interventions are properly integrated into the State Blueprint in a bid to drive sustainability and scale-up of its innovative programmes. Society for Family Health Nigeria COF, SHINE, IntegratE, KPCARE 2, A360, and ICHSSA projects participated in the activity to ensure that priority areas, specifically Family Planning, HIV, OVC, and Human Resources for Health, are integrated into the mapping process. Society for Family Health Nigeria through its interventions will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping an enabling policy environment, ensuring that the girls, women, men and boys across Nigeria for whom we exist have access to quality healthcare services. #FP #HealthforAll IntegratE project, A360 Nigeria