Empowerment

Strengthening Innovation Partnerships: CFHI Meets Honourable Minister with Grand Challenges Nigeria

CFHI was honoured to join Grand Challenges Nigeria and fellow innovators on a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.

As a grantee under GCNg’s inaugural request for proposals themed “Advancing Innovative Solutions for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health,” CFHI is implementing the BIRTH Project in Zamfara and Adamawa States. The project addresses Nigeria’s high maternal and neonatal mortality rates by strengthening emergency obstetric services, expanding access to skilled birth attendants, deploying life-saving technologies, and building sustainable local capacity.

The BIRTH Project aligns with Nigeria’s broader national efforts, including the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), to accelerate reductions in maternal and newborn deaths through innovative, locally driven solutions.

We were pleased to engage alongside the Permanent Secretary, Ministry Directors, and representatives from the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, reflecting the multisectoral collaboration required to sustainably reduce MNCH mortality.

At CFHI, we remain committed to ensuring innovation reaches the last mile, where mothers and newborns need it most.

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Promoting Maternal Nutrition Through Food Demonstration at Adamawa PHC

 

A comprehensive food demonstration session was conducted at Girei A Primary Health Care Centre, targeting 13 pregnant women and 13 lactating mothers. The session was facilitated by a food security and nutrition specialist.

The session aimed to:

  1. Promote the importance of adequate and balanced nutrition for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children.
  2. Increase knowledge of locally available, affordable, and nutritious food options.
  3. Strengthen understanding of optimal infant and young child feeding practices.
  4. Demonstrate practical, hygienic food preparation techniques.

Participants were actively engaged in discussions on how commonly available food items within the community can be combined to achieve a balanced diet and improve overall family health outcomes.

Have you ever prepared:

  1. JOLLOF RICE with LOCUST BEAN and MORINGA LEAVES?
  2. DO YOU LIKE TOM BROWN – Yes or No?

Tell us in the comment below.

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CFHI Leads GBV Awareness Outreach at King Fahad Hospital to Mark 16 Days of Activism

As part of activities commemorating the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) in collaboration with MonClub International conducted a targeted GBV awareness and sensitization outreach at King Fahad Hospital in Gusau, Zamfara State. The session which held during the facility’s Antenatal Clinic (ANC) day, formed part of CFHI’s intensified advocacy to reduce violence against women and girls and strengthen community-level prevention systems within maternal health settings.

More than 120 pregnant women and caregivers in attendance received comprehensive enlightenment on the various forms of GBV including domestic violence, emotional abuse, harmful traditional practices, and sexual abuse. Facilitators also emphasized key prevention approaches, early disclosure, available medical and psychosocial support systems, and safe channels for reporting cases. Questions raised by attendees were addressed to promote improved knowledge, confidence, and help-seeking behavior.

Stakeholders present at the outreach included CFHI and MonClub International staff, ANC matrons, facility health workers, and a UNICEF supervision team. During the sensitization, attendees were educated on the impact of gender-based violence on maternal health, emotional wellbeing, and household stability, and further enlightened on its wider social and economic repercussions. Their participation reinforced collaborative support for survivor-centered response mechanisms and validated the effectiveness of the outreach on facility-based clients.

Facility staff expressed appreciation, noting that GBV remains an underlying barrier to maternal health outcomes, and that continuous sensitization helps improve disclosure and access to services.

The outreach was successfully executed and well-received by both participants and the facility leadership, who commended CFHI’s timely engagement during the global campaign period. CFHI reaffirmed its commitment to advancing stronger advocacy, providing information, enhancing survivor referral pathways, and working with institutional partners to scale GBV prevention initiatives across Zamfara State

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Solar Birth Kit Installed at Shagari PHC to Improve Maternal Care Services

In a strategic move aimed at strengthening maternal healthcare delivery in Zamfara State, Grand Challenges Nigeria in partnership with the Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI), installed a Solar Birth Kit at the Shagari Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Gusau Local Government Area on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. The initiative is expected to significantly improve safe childbirth, lighting, and emergency response services at the facility, which serves several communities within the LGA.

Installation activities commenced at approximately 1:00 p.m. following the arrival of installation equipment and technical personnel from Kebbi State. The process, which lasted about four hours, included mounting solar panels and the internal lighting system, followed by operational testing. The kit provides reliable lighting and power sources required for deliveries conducted at night, vaccine storage, and essential medical procedures critical needs in facilities where electricity supply remains unstable.

Following the installation, engineers led a practical training session for CFHI field officers and health workers at Shagari PHC. The training focused on safe usage, battery maintenance, troubleshooting, and documentation of power output for service records. This capacity building effort is expected to enhance sustainability and ensure that healthcare workers maximize the support offered by the Solar Birth Kit.

The equipment was formally handed over to the Officer-in-Charge of the facility and representatives of the host community, symbolizing joint ownership and accountability. Traditional leaders expressed appreciation for the intervention, noting that improved lighting and equipment support will benefit pregnant women, particularly during night-time emergencies.

Although installation began behind schedule due to delayed arrival of equipment resulting in health workers waiting several hours beyond their duty time the activity was fully completed by 5:12 p.m. The successful deployment of the Solar Birth Kit stands as a notable milestone toward ensuring safer maternal care in underserved areas. CFHI urged government agencies and development partners to prioritise infrastructural upgrades at PHCs to complement such projects and guarantee quality healthcare delivery for women and children across the state.

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16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM WEBINAR

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence serves as a crucial reminder that the fight for safety is no longer confined to the physical world. For today’s youth, the lines between online and offline spaces are virtually non-existent, making digital violence a terrifying, ever-present threat. From cyber-harassment and doxing to the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, the consequences of this virtual aggression are acutely real, impacting mental health, educational opportunities, and future prospects. We cannot talk about empowering young people without addressing the toxicity that permeates the very platforms they use for connection and education.

This is why we need to move the discussion from just individual awareness to collective systemic change. The current approach often places the burden of protection entirely on the victim, telling them to ‘log off,’ ‘block,’ or ‘ignore.’ But the root of the problem is a culture of entitlement, misogyny, and power imbalance that thrives in the anonymity of the internet. Our upcoming webinar, is built on the belief that those who live this reality the youth themselves must lead the charge in defining the solutions. This is not another lecture; it is an active forum for sharing strategies, demanding accountability from platforms, and shaping policy.

To truly end digital violence, we must recognize that the actions taken online are merely reflections of the attitudes held offline. Building safer online communities requires us to simultaneously cultivate respectful, equitable relationships in our schools, homes, and public spaces. By bringing together young leaders, activists, tech experts, and policymakers, we will explore practical, multi-pronged strategies: from digital literacy that teaches consent and empathy, to legislative frameworks that hold abusers and enablers accountable. Our dialogue aims to forge a united front that ensures freedom of expression does not come at the cost of personal safety.

Your voice is the missing piece of this urgent conversation. Join us for this critical dialogue during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls to move beyond awareness and into action. Let’s co-create a future where every young person can navigate the digital world and the physical world with confidence, respect, and zero fear. Digital spaces must be the engines of opportunity, not the trenches of abuse. Register now to secure your spot and become part of the solution to end digital violence once and for all.

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World Toilet Day: Promoting Hygiene, Dignity, and Wellness in our Community

 Today, as the world commemorates World Toilet Day, the Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) joined the global movement to emphasize that safe sanitation is a human right and a critical component of public health. This year’s focus reinforces the message that toilets, hygiene, and sanitation systems are essential for human dignity, disease prevention, and healthier communities.

In Abuja, CFHI carried out a targeted sensitization outreach engaging men on the importance of personal hygiene and proper toilet maintenance. Recognizing the influential role men play in shaping hygiene practices at home and in public spaces, the session provided clear guidance on essential habits such as regular handwashing, responsible toilet use, and sustaining cleanliness in shared environments. To further support these practices, CFHI also distributed toilet hygiene items including disinfectants, soap, and cleaning materials to encourage immediate action and reinforce the lessons shared during the engagement.

The sensitization highlighted the health risks linked to poor toilet hygiene, including diarrhoeal diseases, cholera, parasitic infections, and antimicrobial resistance conditions that continue to affect millions across communities with limited sanitation awareness. By embracing consistent hygiene routines, men can significantly reduce these risks, protect their households, and contribute to broader public health improvement.

Participants were encouraged to take ownership of sanitation spaces within their homes and workplaces. Practical demonstrations were provided on effective toilet maintenance techniques such as routine cleaning, proper waste disposal, ensuring good ventilation, and addressing minor infrastructural issues before they escalate.

Strengthening these practices improves well-being, boosts productivity, and contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6: clean water and sanitation for all.

 

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