By Milcah Tanimu

The federal government and various stakeholders have lauded the achievements of the Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria project in improving maternal health, disease prevention, and other critical health areas in the country. This commendation was given during the Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria national learning and transition event held in Abuja, themed “Celebrating Successes, Consolidating Learning, Transitioning for Sustainability.”

Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria, a USAID flagship Social and Behavior Change (SBC) project, has been implementing transformative SBC interventions in Nigeria since 2018. The project has had a significant impact on health communication and behavioral change, reaching millions of Nigerians and fostering healthier practices.

Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, highlighted the project’s innovative approach and dedication. Represented by Dr. Binyerem Ukaire, Director of the Family Health Department, Pate emphasized the project’s role in promoting reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health, as well as nutrition and disease prevention. He noted that SBC is crucial for achieving health goals and targets.

Dr. Shittu Abdu-Aguye, Project Director of Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria, reported that the project, with an investment of over $100 million over seven years, is the largest SBC program ever funded by USAID/Nigeria. The project has improved health behaviors across various areas, including maternal and child health, family planning, nutrition, malaria, tuberculosis, COVID-19, and priority zoonotic diseases, particularly in 12 intervention states.

Suegatha Kai-Rennie, USAID HPN Deputy Director, emphasized the importance of SBC in improving health outcomes. She highlighted that Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria reached over 17 million Nigerians through various communication channels, including 7.8 million children under five and over 600,000 pregnant women. The project also facilitated over 2.3 million community-to-facility referrals, with more than 1.2 million completed for services such as family planning, maternal and child health, malaria, and nutrition.

Dr. Godwin Ntadom, National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Program, stressed the importance of SBC in malaria elimination efforts and called for sustained partnership with Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria. Dr. Jide Idris, Director General of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), represented by Dr. Sikiru Badaru, acknowledged the project’s role in enhancing community engagement and disease prevention.

Overall, the Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria project has significantly contributed to improving health behaviors and outcomes across Nigeria, with stakeholders expressing hope for continued and sustained impact.