Health, Population and Nutrition

Health, Population and Nutrition

The Millennium Development Goals to reduce maternal and child mortality in Africa cannot be achieved without major improvements in the health status of Nigeria’s women and children. Strengthening the health sector and improving the overall health status of the population are among the most important development issues facing Nigeria.

In general, Nigeria is making much slower progress on maternal and child health indicators than most other African countries. The maternal mortality rate is among the highest in the world and completed fertility remains over seven in the Northern states where child-bearing starts very early and births are closely spaced. About one million children die each year before their fifth birthday, infant and child mortality rates are extremely high, and contraceptive prevalence is low.

Health, Population and Nutrition Strategy:
The USAID Health, Population and Nutrition strategy in Nigeria emphasizes stronger coordination of activities, greater focus in geographic and technical implementation, and strategic integration of key program areas and resources, including family planning and reproductive health; maternal, neonatal, and child health, including routine immunization; and prevention and treatment of malaria and HIV. The strategy improves health services by increasing the number and quality of health providers, expanding access to and use of essential life saving commodities, and strengthening health facilities to adhere to international standards of practice. Integration across sectors, particularly at the community level and with education and civil society activities, is also a priority and key to accomplishing sustainable improvements in health. Engaging civil society, the media, and the private sector in the policy and advocacy process will increasingly strengthen political and budgetary support for health.

USAID/Nigeria is working to significantly increase the demand for health services and commodities at the local level by increasing awareness among state and local government authorities, community coalitions, and civil society organizations as well as increasing access to health services and supplies in public and private facilities at all levels of the health system. Through these efforts, the availability of health-related commodities and supplies will be improved, leading to an increased capacity of service providers to provide quality care and sustainable improvements in the services provided.


Activities Include:
Targeted States High Impact Project (TSHIP)
Life of Project: 2009 - September 2014
Funding: $85,453,015
Implementing Partner: John Snow International Research and Training Institute
Geographic Focus: Bauchi and Sokoto States

Improved Reproductive Health in Nigeria (IRHIN)
Life of Project: 2005 - 2010
Funding: $16,500,000
Implementing Partner: Society for Family Health
Geographic Focus: Abia, Cross River and Kaduna States

Maternal Child Health Integrated Project (MCHIP)
Life of Project: 2009 - 2014
Implementing Partner: Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO)
Geographic Focus: Kano, Katsina and Zamfara States

Fistula Care
Life of Project: 2009 - 2014
Implementing Partner: EngenderHealth
Geographic Focus: Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Ebonyi and Bauchi States


Budget:
2007-2009: $140 M
2010: $59.5 M


Expected Results:
•Improved quality of public and private primary health care services
•Strengthened governance of health systems
•Expanded demand for improved public and private primary health care services
•Increased government and private sector capacity to provide services and commodities


Nigeria's Key Health Indicators:
•Fertility rates vary from 7.3 births per woman in the north-western region to 4.5 in the south western region
•Modern contraceptive prevalence is 9.7%
•Maternal mortality rate is estimated at 545 per 100,000
http://nigeria.usaid.gov/programs/health-population-and-nutrition