Society for Family Health Nigeria

The Society for Family Health (SFH) Nigeria is an non governmental organisation (NGO), incorporated in 1985, focused on providing malaria prevention and treatment (including intermittent preventive treatment), HIV prevention (including Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission),^[1][2] maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, family planning, cervical cancer screening and prevention ^[3] and safe water systems.^[4] SFH uses social marketing, behaviour change communication (communication through radio dramas, mass media messages, etc.) and research working in partnership with the Government of Nigeria and community-based organisations.

History

SFH is a public health institution in Nigeria founded in 1983 by Honourable Justice Ifeyinwa Nzeako,^[5] Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti (late), Pharm (Mallam) Dahiru Wali and Mr. Phil Harvey. SFH began as a Population Services International (PSI) affiliate with one HIV grant and reproductive health products for distribution in Nigeria.

In 1985 SFH was incorporated as a Nigerian non-governmental organisation and in 1994 released the award winning "Who Get This Rain Coat" Gold Circle Condom/Family Planning campaign on national television. In the late 1980s it went into partnerships with pharmaceutical companies to distribute Gold Circle condoms in Lagos, Oyo and Ogun States, in South Western Nigeria. It soon scaled up its operations, expanding nationwide, and commencing the marketing of oral contraceptives, in partnership with USAID. A partnership with the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) followed, which also focuses on the marketing of condoms^[6] oral and injectable contraceptives, and a water-based lubricant.

By 1997 SFH was distributing seventeen million condoms annually, and by 2009, 200 million condoms all over Nigeria at a subsidised price. In 2003 SFH launched its malaria programme, in partnership with USAID. This focused on both the treatment and prevention of malaria, one of the biggest causes of infant and child mortality in Nigeria. The malaria programme has grown significantly, with funding and support from The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The focus is now on the use of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACT) and conducting Rapid Diagnostic Test for malaria before treatment as well as encouraging proper use of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets.

In 2005 SFH became the first Nigerian organisation to receive direct funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to implement programmes in reproductive health.^[7] SFH now has 18 regional offices and 12 active projects present in 36 states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory where the organisation is headquartered.

The organisation also helps to ensure healthy pregnancies, safe deliveries, child spacing and emergency interventions for women at risk with funding support from several national and international donors and funders including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, United States International Development Agency, UK Department for International Development UK, Oxfam Novib, United Nations Population Fund and the Global Fund to fight HIV & AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Operations & Locations

Society for Family Health Nigeria has 18 regional offices and 7 project specific offices operating in the 36 states of Nigeria. These locations include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Cross River, Enugu, Edo, Ondo, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa, Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, and FCT-Abuja Field and Headquarters. SFH creates demand for life saving health commodities through social marketing; commodities are stored at the SFH Warehouse in Ota, Ogun State. At the 7,400 square meters warehouse SFH’s commodities are packaged and properly stored; in addition there is a condom testing lab where male condoms are tested before packaging and distribution.

References