The Journey
SFH is incorporated and housed in a rented office in Lagos with two employees.
SFH introduces her first product to the Nigerian market and receives her first HIV grant from DKT International.
SFH expands her portfolio with a USAID grant worth about 2 million dollars.
- SFH expands to the six geo-political zones in Nigeria.
- SFH becomes the first Nigerian NGO qualified to receive funding directly from the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID).
- A Nigerian is also appointed to the top position for the first time.
- SFH acquires her headquarters building in Abuja.
SFH receives her largest grant from DFID to implement the ENR project. This grant was worth over 10 million GBP.
SFH builds her 8,832m square warehouse.
SFH becomes ISO (9001:2005) certified and continues to deliver public health goods to Nigerians and Africans at large.
SFH is a public health institution in Nigeria founded in 1983 by Honourable Justice Ifeyinwa Nzeako, Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti (late), Pharm (Mallam) Dahiru Wali and Mr. Phil Harvey.
SFH began as a Population Services International (PSI) affiliate with one HIV grant and reproductive health products for distribution in Nigeria. In 1985 SFH was incorporated as a Nigerian non-governmental organisation and in 1994 released the award-winning Who Get This Rain Coat Gold Circle Condom/Family Planning campaign on national television.
In the late 1980s it went into partnerships with pharmaceutical companies to distribute Gold Circle condoms in Lagos, Oyo and Ogun States, in South Western Nigeria. It soon scaled up its operations, expanding nationwide, and commencing the marketing of oral contraceptives, in partnership with USAID. A partnership with the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) followed, which also focuses on the marketing of condoms oral and injectable contraceptives, and a water-based lubricant.
By 1997 SFH was distributing seventeen million condoms annually, and by 2009, 200 million condoms all over Nigeria at a subsidised price. In 2003 SFH launched its malaria programme, in partnership with USAID. This focused on both the treatment and prevention of malaria, one of the biggest causes of infant and child mortality in Nigeria. The malaria programme has grown significantly, with funding and support from The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The focus is now on the use of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACT) and conducting Rapid Diagnostic Test for malaria before treatment as well as encouraging proper use of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets. In 2005 SFH became the first Nigerian organisation to receive direct funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to implement programmes in reproductive health.
SFH now has 20 regional offices and 14 active projects present in 36 states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory where the organisation is headquartered. The organisation also helps to ensure healthy pregnancies, safe deliveries, child spacing and emergency interventions for women at risk with funding support from several national and international donors and funders including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, United States International Development Agency, UK Department for International Development UK, Oxfam Novib, United Nations Population Fund and the Global Fund to fight HIV & AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Ethical Measures At SFH, we are: People of integrity, exhibiting uprightness, transparency, and honesty, People who work as a team and are confident in one another; People who are committed to excellence, undertaking every aspect of our work with care, determination and pride People who are responsive to the needs of our stakeholders, committed to collaboration with government and our other partners both local and international, People who are curious and enterprising and, People who constantly strive to learn and increase our knowledge and capacity.