Society for Family Health Nigeria

The Society for Family Health (SFH) Nigeria is a non governmental organisation (NGO), founded in 1983 and incorporated in 1985.[1]

The organisation was founded by three Nigerians, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, Mallam Dahiru Wali, and Hon. Justice Ifeyinwa Nzeako.[2][3]

SFH's intervention areas include; Treating and positively changing behaviour towards malaria prevention and treatment with the use of rapid diagnostic test or microscopy, HIV/TB treatment and prevention (including prevention of mother-to-child transmission),[4][5] adolescent and young people programming, reproductive health and family planning (RH/FP), health policy and financing, Pharma systems strengthening, research and management information systems, cervical cancer screening and prevention,[6] and safe water systems.[7][8] Dr. Omokhudu Idogho is the managing director of the organisation.[9][10]

History

SFH is a Nigerian non-governmental organisation founded in 1983 by Honourable Justice Ifeyinwa Nzeako,[11] 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 "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 then UK's Department for International Development (DFID) (now the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), followed which also focused on the marketing of condoms,[12] 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. The focus was on 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.[13] SFH is now in operation in four West African Countries- Liberia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. As well as 20 regional offices and 19 active projects are present across all 36 states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory where the organisation is headquartered.

SFH also helps to ensure healthy pregnancies, safe deliveries, child spacing, and emergency interventions for women at risk. The organisation receives its funding support from a number of national and international donors. Among these are: The World Bank, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Children's Investment Fund Foundation, MSD for Mothers, the United States International Development Agency, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Oxfam Novib, United Nations Population Fund, and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Board of Trustees

SFH Nigeria's board of trustees are as follows;[14]

Operations and locations

The Society for Family Health (SFH) operates in four West African countries: Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria. In Nigeria, SFH has 20 regional offices and 19 active projects are present across all 36 states in Nigeria including the FCT- Abuja where the organisation is headquartered.[18]

The Society for Family Health works in six thematic areas affecting family health in Nigeria. The thematic areas are: Safe Water Systems in Nigeria, Family Planning and Reproductive Health, MNCH and Nutrition, HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment, Malaria Prevention and Treatment, & Health and Social Systems Strengthening.

SFH Nigeria's public health interventions in these thematic areas are implemented through different projects across several states across Nigeria.[19] 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, stored, and distributed all over West Africa. The organisation has a condom testing lab where male condoms are tested prior to packaging and distribution.

References
  1. SFH Nigeria. "Welcome To Society for Family Health". sfhnigeria.org. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  2. "Society for Family Health, Nigeria, Justice Ifeyinwa Nzeako House, 8 Port Harcourt Cres, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria, Psychologist, state Nasarawa". ng.infoaboutcompanies.com. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  3. "About Us". Society for Family Health Nigeria. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
  4. Nigeria's fight against AIDS, by Chika Oduah; at al-Jazeera; published 1 December 2013; retrieved 16 April 2014
  5. HEALTH-NIGERIA: Innovative Ways to Combat AIDS, by Remi Oyo; at ipsnews; published 12 November 2000; retrieved 16 April 2014
  6. Cervical Cancer kills 9,659 Nigerian women annually – SFH Archived 2014-05-31 at the Wayback Machine, by Friday Olokor; at Punch; published 15 January 2014; retrieved 16 April 2014
  7. Bill Clinton Hails P&G For Touching Lives With PUR, by Seyi Ogunbameru; at The Nigerian Voice; published 23 August 2013; retrieved 16 April 2014
  8. SFH Nigeria. "Intervention Areas". sfhnigeria.org. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  9. "Dr. Omokhudu Idogho".
  10. "About Us – SFH". Retrieved 2022-04-30.
  11. Women urged to use condom Archived 2012-07-19 at the Wayback Machine, by Wale Adepoju; at The Nation; published 23 March 2012; retrieved 16 April 2014
  12. Two Can Play: A Tale of Government and Young People (II), by 'Sola Fagorusi; at JarusHub; published 17 April 2013; retrieved 16 April 2014
  13. USAID/Nigeria Operational Plan, by USAID; at USAID; published 2 June 2006; retrieved 16 April 2014
  14. SFH Nigeria. "Board Of Trustees". sfhnigeria.org. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  15. Nigeria Health Watch. "Press Briefing by the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai on the 90th Annual National Conference of the PSN". Press Release. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  16. "Management Team | Society for Family Health, Nigeria". www.sfhnigeria.org. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  17. PSI. "PSI Team". psi.org. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  18. SFH Nigeria. "Regional Offices". sfhnigeria.org. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  19. SFH Nigeria. "Thematic Areas". sfhnigeria.org. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.