Sustainable Family Health Foundation (SFHF) on Wednesday in Abuja launched Second phase of their Comprehensive and Inclusive Women’s Health In Nigeria ( CIWHIN) Project.
CIWHIN Project is being implemented in FCT and the northwest, Nigeria with special focus on obstetric fistula prevention and management and persons with disabilities. The project is supported by CBM Global Disability Inclusion.
The Executive Director, SFHF, Mrs Peters Ogumayi while introducing the SFHF to the stakeholders present, appreciated CBM Global, CBM UK and Australian government for finding it worthy to extend CIWHIN Project to further deepen the impact of the first phase on women and women with disabilities in the project locations.
Speaking further, she said that since SFHF was registered in 2019, it has been their passion and commitment to reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria, giving vulnerable women quality healthcare services to prevent fistula from happening, because it is very difficult to manage it.
She also said that SFHF’ focus is also on fistula repair and capacity strengthening of health facilities and healthcare workers for better result in prevention and management of obstetric fistula.
There are problems relating to women taking decision for themselves on sexual and reproductive health, the lack of economic stability of the women to decide what is right for them and so on. That’s why in 2019, with the support of CBM Global, UK and Australia, we mainstreamed disability in our work and our project has so far significantly impacted the lives of persons with disabilities, about 150 assistive devices have been distributed.
She informed that by next year 2024 through this second phase of the project, more persons with disability and fistula survivors will become beneficiaries.
She informed that their relationship with CBM Global started with a pilot project and then 3 years of the project which ended last year, we are working in 3 area councils in FCT, Kano, Kebbi, Katsina and Zamfara States.
According her, through the project, some health care facilities has been upgraded with equipment and staffing across the project locations.
The project is also all about going to the communities to educate, sensitize, advocate and mobilize patients in order to repair the fistula condition and empower them economically.
The Country Director, CBM Global, Ms Ekaete Umoh during her speech said that the second phase of the project is made possible through the funding of CBM UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Speaking further, she said that CBM Global will continue to foster partnership, renewed support in this second phase in order to improve quality of life for women especially women with disabilities.
She also said that the new phase will focus on advocacy, economic empowerment, male involvement and inclusion advisory
for improved system to sustain gains achieved in the first phase, and to engender ownership and sustainability.
“The project is meant to reach 3, 637 women and girls through economic empowerment activities, fistula repairs and capacity strengthening”.
“Collectively, we will continue to make contributions towards creative and transformative change and make meaningful impact on lives”.
She appreciated the stakeholders present and urged them to join hands towards achieving the overall goals of the project.
The Chairman Board of SFHF, Prof. Sadia Nasir while declaring the project launch event open said that apart from obstetric fistula repairs and prevention, SFHF are taking Advocacy to the communities on fistula prevention and management.
She also said that new phase is a scale up of the first phase and the achievements of the first phase are there for anyone to see.
She appreciated CBM Global for protecting the rights of women especially women with disabilities.
She encouraged all stakeholders including the traditional leaders to support the second phase to consolidate on the gains of the first phase and record more successes.
The new phase would be focusing on the following areas;
- Women and girls have increased understanding on Sexual and Reproductive Health Right leading to increase health services and behaviours
- Local health facilities are strengthened to deliver quality reproductive health services.
- Women and Girls are empowered to undertake income generating activities.
- Improved project management implementing capacity.
There were goodwill messages from major stakeholders such as JONAPWD, Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, FCT PHCB, Kwali General Hospital, Traditional Ruler, National Obstetric Centre, Katsina State, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Representatives from Kano, Kebbi, Katsina and Zamfara, The Qualitative Magazine, CBM UK representative and many more.
The highpoint of the project launch was the unveiling of the project banner by CBM Global, County Director, Ms Ekaete Umoh. The banner was inscribed the objective of the project which is ‘Contribute to improved quality of life for women and girls of reproductive age” and Project Focus Areas as stated above.
