NIGERIA: Overview

Nigeria Overview | Current Projects | Publications | Feature Stories

Since 1965, Pathfinder International has collaborated with Nigerian organizations and communities to increase the quality and accessibility of reproductive health and family planning services throughout the country.

Nearly one out of every four sub-Saharan Africans is Nigerian. The country is home to approximately 250 different ethnic groups, each with its own language and culture. Despite the country’s vast resources, 60 percent of Nigerians live below the poverty line, and many lack access to basic health care. Though the prevalence of HIV/AIDS has begun to decline in recent years, Nigeria has the second highest total population infected with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

Pathfinder works in Nigeria through its country office in Abuja and its field office in Kaduna. With a diverse funding portfolio, Pathfinder currently supports 10 projects and is the lead partner in The Community Participation for Action in the Social Sector Project (COMPASS), one of the largest integrated health and education projects in Africa.

Current Projects in Nigeria

Integrated Health and Education

COMPASS is a collaborative, USAID-funded effort that primarily focuses on reproductive health, family planning, child survival, and basic education.

Safe Motherhood

Pathfinder works to promote training of skilled birth attendants to help ensure safe pregnancies and deliveries; promotes life-saving, emergency obstetric care to address complications such as postpartum hemorrhage; and supports engaged communities. Projects include:

Reproductive Health and Family Planning

With both public and private funding, Pathfinder promotes quality health services, trains clinic- and community-based health workers, and supports local NGOs that offer reproductive health information, contraceptives, and services. Projects include:

Advocacy

Through the ENHANSE Project, Pathfinder focuses on the training and sensitization of religious leaders in Nigeria’s Muslim-dominated north.

HIV/AIDS

Pathfinder’s Nigeria AIDS Responsive Fund mobilizes communities and public sector organizations to address HIV prevention and reduce stigma surrounding the disease. Pathfinder is also strengthening the capacity of nine health facilities in Kaduna State to deliver Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services under the Columbia University’s International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Program (ICAP).

Education

Pathfinder supports two programs that provide educational opportunities to emerging leaders in public health and other fields promoting social and economic justice. They are: