50% of SFH’s programme beneficiaries are the poor.

50% of rural pregnant women and children under 5 sleep under long lasting insecticide treated nets in at least two focus states.
Modern contraceptive prevalence rate increases from 11% to 16%.

Consistent condom use among high risk groups increases by 20%.

SFH MISSION

Society for Family Health has a mission to empower Nigerians, particularly the poor and vulnerable to lead healthier lives...more 

Promoting Potable Water Supply
and Sanitary Systems: SFH, USAID
and The Coca-Cola Africa
Foundation deliver 9 boreholes
and 18 blocks of public toilets to communities in  Nkanu East in Nigeria.

There is no gainsaying that access to sustainable potable water and good sanitary conditions are fundamental to community development initiatives. Many communities in Nigeria today do not have access to potable water and their sanitary profile is poor. Majority of these communities have to resort to unhygienic sources of water such as wells, rivers and water vendors as alternatives to meet their household needs. This singular practice contributes to high mortality rate and predisposes the population to water borne diseases and poor sanitation such as typhoid, cholera, guinea worm and so on. It is estimated that a mere 48% of people residing in urban areas and 39% of those living in the rural areas have access to potable water supply in Nigeria.
Recognising these challenges and in the quest to minimise deaths associated with water borne diseases and poor sanitation, the Society for Family Health entered into a unique partnership with the American Government through the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) and The Coca Cola Africa Foundation (TCCAF) to address community water challenges in 3 communities of Nkanu East LGA of Enugu State.

The partnership is referred to as Water and Development Alliance (WADA) with the sole purpose of protecting and improving the sustainability of watersheds, increasing access to water supply and sanitation services, and enhancing productive use of water.

In March 2011, with support from USAID and TCCAF, SFH constructed and delivered 9 boreholes and 18 blocks of public toilets with hand washing facilities to Amechi Idodo, Nkerefi and Akpawfu communities. Commissioning the project, the Ambassador of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project and the wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Clara Chime thanked SFH and the donors for supporting the state governments’ efforts in contributing to rural community development in the areas of proper hygiene and safe water. She further assured that the state and local government will provide counterpart funding to expand the project in other communities. The traditional leader of Amechi Idodo, HRH Igwe Edeani while thanking SFH and the donors for coming to the rescue of his community asserted that “the selection criteria, the project execution process, the quality of work done and calibre of staff in SFH/WASH management committee…...all these go to make me believe, rightly too, that the team are the most transparent organisation I have come across in my entire life”
Meanwhile, the President Board of Trustees of SFH, Justice Ifeyinwa Nzeako, in her speech called on the community members to use, maintain and guard the facilities so that it will serve the desired purpose. She enjoined the school pupils to wash their hands with water and soap after using the toilet and to always treat drinking water with Water Guard and PUR.      
In addition to providing these infrastructures, SFH is also committed to promoting provision of potable water and proper sanitation and hygiene practices as key component of a standard community level health intervention programme. In this regard, SFH implemented a behaviour change component of the project in the communities which includes the benefits of hand washing especially after using the toilet, disinfecting of water through point of use Safe Water System products (WaterGuard and PUR), as well as skills for construction of toilet slabs for the community.  It also provided training for the maintenance of the boreholes to the community members.  Other deliverables of the project include building the capacity of pupils in focal schools on household level point of use water treatment using WaterGuard(R) and PUR(R), thereby making them ambassadors of good hygiene and improved sanitary practices. Over 1,884 school children from 3 focal schools in each of the community benefited from this process.

Key highpoints of the ceremony was the commitment of the Local Government Chairman of Nkanu East Hon. Ejike Ani to replicate this initiative in 8 communities within the Local Council. Other dignitaries at the event include representative of USAID Mission Director Mr. Howard Batson, Public Affairs & Communications Director of TCCAF Mrs. Irene Ubah, Honourable Commissioners of Health and Water Resources in the state and the royal fathers led by HRH Igwe Hyacinth Edeani.