Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMHSW) has launched a strategic initiative to integrate sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services with interventions for communicable diseases. This collaborative approach aims to strengthen the country’s health system, enhance access to essential care, and provide a more people-centered approach to healthcare, particularly for vulnerable populations.
The initiative is designed to address long-standing barriers such as fragmented services, poor coordination between health programmes, stigma, and low community awareness. By combining SRHR with interventions for HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), adolescent health, antenatal care, and gender-based violence (GBV), the programme seeks to streamline care for adolescents, pregnant women, people living with HIV (PLHIV), and other key populations. Enhanced referral systems will ensure seamless transitions between community-based services and higher levels of care, promoting equitable, efficient, and integrated healthcare aligned with Nigeria’s universal health coverage goals.
Funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and technically supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the initiative will initially be piloted in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and four states: Anambra, Ebonyi, Gombe, and Kwara. Leaders from the Family Health and Public Health Departments emphasized that centering care on the needs of individuals, especially women and adolescents, improves accessibility, affordability, and effectiveness while fostering coordinated service delivery across the health system.
WHO provides technical guidance by adapting global best practices to the Nigerian context, supporting resilient health systems and advancing Sustainable Development Goal 3 on health and well-being. Additional partners, including the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and Jhpiego, will contribute expertise in capacity building, innovative service delivery, and clinical protocol development to ensure high-quality care.
Community engagement is a central component of the programme. Community-based organisations, traditional and religious leaders, and youth groups will raise awareness, address misconceptions, and encourage health-seeking behaviors. This participatory approach aims to build trust, empower individuals, and increase service uptake, ultimately improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
The initiative will be coordinated jointly by the Safe Motherhood Branch of the Family Health Department and the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCP). Key activities include integrating services at primary healthcare facilities, training health workers, harmonizing monitoring tools, and implementing a robust evaluation framework to track service uptake, quality of care, and overall health outcomes. Insights from the pilot phase will inform a potential national scale-up.
By integrating SRHR with communicable disease programmes, Nigeria is moving toward a more inclusive, efficient, and accountable health system. This initiative highlights the country’s commitment to equitable care and represents a significant step toward sustainable health improvements for underserved populations across Nigeria.
