Project Overview: GHIG 7 Project in Osun State (2022 – 2023)

The GHIG 7 Project, implemented from 2022 to 2023 in Osun State, Nigeria, focused on improving the prevention and management of Pneumonia, Diarrhea, and Malaria (PDM) among children under five. The project aimed to integrate PDM interventions into routine immunization activities at both facility and community levels, addressing critical healthcare needs in vulnerable populations.

Target

The primary target of the GHIG 7 Project was children under the age of five in Osun State, particularly those receiving care at 60 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) across 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs). The project also focused on caregivers, community volunteers, and healthcare workers, ensuring widespread knowledge and resources for PDM prevention and management.

Objectives

The project set out to achieve several key objectives:

1. Strengthening PHC Infrastructure: Upgrading selected PHCs to effectively control Pneumonia, Diarrhea, and Malaria.
2. Capacity Building: Training frontline healthcare workers to deliver high-quality PDM prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services.
3. Community Engagement: Training and empowering community volunteers (CVs) to identify and refer under-five children with PDM symptoms and to disseminate preventive messages within their communities.
4. Awareness and Education: Increasing knowledge and acceptance of PDM prevention, diagnosis, and treatment interventions among caregivers and community members.
5. Policy Influence: Engaging stakeholders to create a policy environment that supports the protection, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of PDM in Osun State.

Interventions and Achievements

The project implemented several interventions to achieve its goals:

• Health Education: Trained healthcare workers provided health education to caregivers during routine immunization clinics and outreach programs like Child Health Week and National Immunization Plus Days (NIPD). Caregivers were educated on preventive practices such as exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, immunization, and hygiene.
• Community Engagement: Community volunteers, trained and deployed across the 30 LGAs, played a crucial role in identifying and referring children with PDM symptoms to PHCs. These volunteers also promoted preventive measures within their communities, contributing to better health outcomes.
• Policy Advancement: EHAI worked with the Osun State PHCDA to establish a State PDM Technical Working Group (TWG), comprising stakeholders from various health-related agencies. The TWG’s mission was to ensure the sustainable integration of PDM control activities into the state’s immunization program. Regular meetings were held to review progress, address challenges, and mobilize political support.

Through this collaborative approach, the GHIG 7 Project successfully improved the capacity of healthcare workers, engaged communities in PDM prevention, and positively influenced policy to support sustainable health interventions for children under five in Osun State.