Nigeria’s leading health NGOs drive public health progress in Africa

In the fight against infectious diseases and the establishment of healthcare systems, Nigeria’s foremost NGO, Love for Health organisations, has emerged as a driver in advocating for public health across Nigeria and the African continent. Their focused interventions, innovative strategies, and expansive partnerships have achieved impacts on disease prevention, treatment, and health system strengthening, positioning Nigeria as a health program leader that reaches millions of people.

Love for Health organisations, established in 2008, is an umbrella health organization committed to making evidence-based, qualitative health-related decisions as well as adhering to a well-defined vision of saving lives. The organization tightly collaborates in partnership with both public and private players in the industry to advance better health research as well as standards of healthcare delivery. Its main functions are to strengthen health systems through data and performance management, to support and enhance health financing, to optimise the health workforce for better care, and to enable leadership and organizational capacity development. It also focuses on innovative health service delivery and supply chain enhancement for better health outcomes.

LHO, having been in dedicated service for over 13 years, has made immense contributions to Nigeria’s national HIV response. The organization has further provided comprehensive technical support, capacity building, and support for the delivery of services at all levels within the health system. It has assisted approximately 50,000 individuals with HIV, with over 100,000 HIV-positive children and adults in more than 70 clinics across nine states being enrolled in life-saving antiretroviral therapy. Moreover, has supplied drugs to nearly 50,000 HIV-positive pregnant women to avert mother-to-child transmission, which significantly reduced rates of new infection. The activities of the organization also extend to the designing and implementation of supply chain management systems for clinics, laboratories, and government agencies to ensure that drugs and supplies of essential medicines are efficient and accessible.

Love for Health organisation has also made notable progress in health workforce development, where they have trained more than 488 frontline health workers on quality improvement practices in Imo, Niger, and Lagos States. Their information system intervention in their health programs has registered 95% coverage on the Health Management Information System (HMIS) within Kano State, enhancing the quality of data and decision-making. Their Diabetes Awareness and Care initiative has also reached over 700,000 Nigerians significantly, enhancing awareness and enabling control of the disease across the nation.

The efforts of the organizations are a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its health systems and infectious disease control, with significant influence on health trends throughout Africa. Through innovative strategies, capacity building, and strategic partnerships, Love for Health continues propelling the continent toward a healthier, more resilient future.

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