Outreaches

Initially, NURHI conducted a pilot test in Abuja and Kaduna to test the feasibility of providing long-term methods through outreach services. In collaboration with Marie Stopes International - Nigeria (MSIN), NURHI began conducting outreaches in 30 HVS with travelling team of trained providers managed by MSIN. As result of the initial outreaches NURHI provided IUDs and implants to more than 7,000 women in six months.  Based on these impressive results, the project decided to scale up its outreach program. 

With promising results from the pilot, NURHI adopted the outreach services to low-performing sites in each NURHI LGA in effort to increase the number of new FP users and utilization of LAPM. Building on the lessons learned and gains from these initial outreaches, the Outreach model was amplified utilizing the NURHI trained providers to take a more active role in implementation. Coverage was then expanded to markets and military barracks to cover heavily populated areas and other underserved slum areas. 

To address this, in December 2011, the project embarked on a pilot in Abuja and Kaduna to test the feasibility of providing long term methods through outreach services provided by During the pilot, NURHI Social Mobilizers promoted and referred women for the FP services two days prior and during the outreach services. 

All outreaches are linked to strong community-based social mobilization, ensuring high levels of endorsements and support during outreach visibility and service days, and complemented by partnerships with religious and traditional leaders in NURHI sites.

To conduct outreaches NURHI selected one Primary Health Clinic (PHC) or hospital (where there was no PHC) per slum. The Project employed teams of nurses or midwives trained in LAPM to visit each PHC center for two days once every month. These providers also continue to provide services during 2-day outreaches in HVS to help the trained providers deal with increased demand generated by social mobilization. As a result the providers were able to refine their skills with practical experience and gained more confidence in providing LAPM.

To implement the Outreach events, the NURHI team holds planning meetings two weeks before the actual outreach with NURHI social mobilizers, State Ministry of Health/LGA FP Coordinators and clinic staff to finalize the outreach plans and dates..   Two days before and two days during the outreaches, NURHI social mobilizers conduct visibility parades, door-to- door visits, and other activities to educate and invite clients for outreach services. Each client referred received a “Go Card” to take with them to the outreach.  This way, NURHI is able to track the number of clients referred through social mobilization.

After the MLE Midterm Survey and project monitoring data revealed the effectiveness of outreach services through PHCs in slums, the approach was implemented in a variety of settings e.g markets and barracks in effort to expand reach.  Findings showed that the facility based outreach were more successful in terms of new acceptors and cost effectiveness.