Nigeria Solidarity Support fund: Impacting 32 Million Lives
LAGOS – May 18, 2024 – The Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF), a non-governmental organization, has substantially impacted 32 million lives through various healthcare initiatives over the last four years. Driven by a mission to bolster Nigeria’s health system, the NSSF has implemented programs focusing on health service delivery, workforce advancement, health literacy, and policy advocacy, according to reports. these efforts have been instrumental in addressing critical health challenges. For more details, see the full report.
Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund: Impacting 32 Million Lives Through Healthcare Initiatives
Last updated May 18, 2025
Overview of NSSF’s Impact
The Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF), a non-governmental organization, reports significant strides in bolstering nigeria’s health system. Over the past four years, the NSSF’s initiatives have touched the lives of an estimated 32 million people, according to Dr. Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, the Managing Director.
Four Pillars of Success
The NSSF’s impact is rooted in a four-pronged approach:
- Health Service Delivery
- healthcare Workforce Progress
- Health Literacy
- Policy Advocacy
Key Achievements in Health Service Delivery
The NSSF has made considerable contributions to public health through various initiatives:
- COVID-19 Vaccination: 4.9 million people received vaccinations.
- Childhood Immunization: 156,125 children under five were immunized against common childhood diseases.
- Maternal Health: 20,651 pregnant women were vaccinated against tetanus and diphtheria.
Empowering the Healthcare Workforce
Recognizing the critical role of healthcare professionals,the NSSF has invested in training and development:
- Immunization Training: 12,000 healthcare workers were trained on immunization protocols.
- Youth Advocacy: 3,962 young individuals were trained on advocacy related to health insurance, drug abuse prevention, and immunization.
Health Literacy and Awareness Campaigns
The NSSF has conducted extensive campaigns to promote health awareness and preventive measures:
- Nationwide Campaigns: Four nationwide campaigns focused on generating demand for COVID-19 vaccines, childhood immunizations, HPV vaccines, and rehabilitation for substance abuse.
- Public Education: 21.96 million people were educated on preventive health measures through campaigns and local outreach programs.
Challenges: Brain Drain and Quality of Care
Despite these achievements, Dr. Chinye-Nwoko expressed concerns about the quality of healthcare in nigeria due to the emigration of healthcare professionals, often referred to as “brain drain.”
That is depleting the supply-side issue; we are struggling with the quality of care that we may need.
Dr.Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, Managing Director, NSSF
The shortage of healthcare providers is straining the system:
We are seeing a doctor to 10,000 patients ratio; That is outrageous! it means that the time a doctor will spend with a patient will be minimal, and such patient may not get the quality care required.
Dr. Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, Managing Director, NSSF
Looking Ahead: Collaboration and Support
The NSSF remains committed to supporting and collaborating with the goverment and other organizations to strengthen Nigeria’s health system. The organization aims to address the challenges and build a more resilient and equitable healthcare infrastructure.
