
SFH’s 2023 Impact: A Milestone in Combating Malnutrition in Nigeria
By Benjamin Babine
In a landmark year for health interventions, the Society for Family Health (SFH) has made substantial strides in addressing malnutrition and improving healthcare access in Nigeria. According to its 2023 Annual Report, SFH distributed over 4.25 million nutritional supplements to 1.36 million women and children under five years old, marking a significant effort to combat malnutrition in the country.
Broad Spectrum of Health Interventions
Beyond its focus on malnutrition, SFH’s 2023 activities extended to a broad range of health services and commodities. The NGO distributed:
- 315,085 needles and syringes
- 315,085 lubricants
- 82,327 HIV self-testing kits
- 2,349 COVID-19 rapid diagnostic test kits
- 1,958,149 water purifiers
In family planning and preventive healthcare, SFH provided:
- 128,695 family planning commodities to 95,133 adolescent mothers
- 6,143,277 condoms
- 315,085 self-care kits for family planning and malaria
- 5,952,248 insecticide-treated mosquito nets
These efforts were complemented by health screenings and treatments, including:
- 342,016 people tested for tuberculosis (TB), with 2,712 receiving treatment
- 2,143 people screened for hepatitis
- 1,695,562 people tested for HIV, with 40,212 placed on antiretroviral therapy (ART)
Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, SFH’s Managing Director, reflected on the organization’s achievements, noting, “Our comprehensive approach in 2023 not only targeted malnutrition but also significantly expanded access to vital health services and commodities. We have reached millions directly and impacted many more through our diverse interventions.”
Strategic Collaborations and Policy Influence
SFH’s 2023 report highlights the NGO’s collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health to review the Task Shifting Task Sharing (TSTS) policy, which now acknowledges community pharmacists and patent and proprietary medicine vendors (PPMVs) as key healthcare providers. This policy revision is crucial for integrating these frontline workers into the healthcare system, particularly in underserved areas.
“PPMVs are often the first point of contact for many in our communities, especially for family planning, hygiene, and child health services,” said Dr. Idogho. “Our partnership with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria to implement the Three-Tier Accreditation System in 11 states is a testament to our commitment to enhancing the quality and regulation of these essential services.”
By December 2023, SFH had trained 12,863 community pharmacists and PPMVs, provided family planning services to over 350,000 families, and managed cases of malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, and malnutrition among children under five.
Regional and Pan-African Impact
SFH’s impact extended beyond Nigeria, with successful implementation of 24 projects across Africa, benefiting 18.5 million people directly and impacting 50 million more indirectly. Dr. Idogho emphasized the scale of their work: “Notably, 21 of these projects have been extended into 2024, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to health improvement across the continent.”
The organization’s efforts included supporting over 2,312 primary healthcare centers and playing a key role in shaping policy responses and health reforms. Dr. Idogho added, “Our approach of integrating government personnel, leveraging donor funding, and collaborating with various stakeholders has been instrumental in delivering effective interventions.”
Looking Ahead
As SFH moves forward, it plans to continue pioneering new programmatic approaches, investing in technology and data, and enhancing partnerships. The organization aims to maintain resilience and expand its impact, reflecting its dedication to addressing health challenges beyond mere disease prevention.
“The updates in our annual report underscore SFH’s adaptability and resilience in navigating unprecedented challenges,” Dr. Idogho concluded. “We see health as a comprehensive state of well-being, not just the absence of disease, and we are committed to advancing this vision through our ongoing and future efforts.”