Global Reach

Nigeria

Nigeria, a West African country with a total population of over 200 million people, is the most populated country in Africa. In recent years, Nigeria has implemented key maternal and newborn health policies and guidelines, including: a quality of care guideline; a family planning (FP) and contraception guideline; a national surgical obstetrics, anesthesia, and nursing plan; and laws guaranteeing universal access to primary healthcare.

The modern contraceptive prevalence rate for all women ages 15 to 49 is 11.7%. The maternal mortality ratio is 917 deaths per 100,000 live births. Of women ages 15 to 49, 33.4% have experienced physical or sexual violence.

Our Work in Nigeria

EngenderHealth has worked in Nigeria since 1986, strengthening health systems and expanding access to high-quality sexual and reproductive healthcare. We collaborate with communities, civil society, and government partners to improve maternal health, family planning, and gender-responsive healthcare policies.

Through the Hormonal Intrauterine Device (IUD) Roll Out and Scale Up program, we provide technical assistance to public health facilities in Bauchi and Sokoto states, improving their ability to offer high-quality hormonal IUD services. By strengthening the capacity of healthcare trainers and enhancing facility readiness, we are expanding contraceptive choices and ensuring more women can access safe, effective, and affordable family planning.

The Advocacy Solutions to Improve Primary Health Care (PHC) Delivery and Health Outcomes in Nigeria program strengthens PHC services by driving demand, enhancing quality, and advancing health policies. Funded by the Gates Foundation, it improves policy and financing for gender-responsive health systems, ensuring government commitments lead to real healthcare improvements.

EngenderHealth has supported holistic fistula care in Nigeria since 2005, primarily through the Fistula Care, Fistula Care Plus (FC+), and MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics projects. In Nigeria, EngenderHealth works alongside communities, partners, and local and national governments to support quality surgical obstetric care, fistula prevention, and fistula treatment and care through clinical capacity building, partnerships with communities and civil society organizations, and health systems strengthening.

EngenderHealth’s Previous Work in Nigeria

FC+ scaled up standard monitoring and evaluation and strengthened the evidence base to improve fistula care and treatment; improved community understanding and practices to prevent fistula; reduced stigma and supported reintegration of those with fistula; reduced barriers to accessing care and support; and strengthened provider, facility, and system capacities. EngenderHealth also co-facilitated national stakeholders’ meetings to ensure coordination between providers and stakeholders. Through FC+, EngenderHealth supported 7,295 surgical repairs and training for 34 surgeons and 1,317 other healthcare workers in fistula prevention and treatment. Further, the program delivered 1,166,080 FP counseling sessions and 643,595 couple-years of protection, and reached 792,934 individuals through in-person community outreach activities, including through training 1,181 community volunteers and educators.

The MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics program built on and expanded our decades-long work and leadership in identifying and addressing the causes of obstetric fistulas through our Fistula Care and FC+ programs. In Nigeria (2020-2024), the program worked to increase the ability of Nigerian local institutions to provide safe surgical obstetric care, including the prevention and treatment of obstetric fistula. The program also worked with the government, the health sector, and communities to develop and carry out interventions to prevent female genital cutting/mutilation (FGC/M) and mitigate adverse obstetric impacts among women who have experienced FGC/M.