The project undertook two activities to improve awareness of and access to FP/RH-related issues and services. It used mass media campaigns about HIV/AIDS and the repositioning of community-based health distribution centres. In addition, training curricula and capacity-building development, and the development of training sessions for clinical trainers at university-based hospitals, were pursued.

The VISION project worked with local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active in the selected LGAs to develop “informed clients.” BCC activities aimed to increase knowledge and to empower individuals and communities to demand quality family planning, sexually transmitted infection(STI)/HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health information and services. The project developed information and education print materials and radio public service announcements (PSAs) for women with an unmet need for family planning, as well as messages designed to reach men and youth that focused on male involvement and responsibility in reproductive decision-making.

In collaboration with local sports clubs, the VISION project developed an outreach strategy aimed at youth called Sports for Life to promote healthy lifestyles and spread information on family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention during football competitions.

The project’s media campaign included a set of weekly radio programmes to disseminate family planning, HIV/AIDS, and other RH information to the general public. VISION, with its partner NGOs, organised radio discussion clubs in the areas being addressed by the initiative, and provided these clubs with radios.

The project partners also conducted several complementary mass media activities (including radio, TV, and print). For example, the Society for Family Health (SFH) implemented several radio dramas aimed at increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS, and its causes and consequences. These radio dramas included One Thing at a Time, Garin Muna Fata (Town of Hope), Odenjiji, and Abule Oloke Merin. SFH also produced a television advertisement to promote safe sex that featured Nigerian soccer superstar Sunday Oliseh. A billboard campaign to increase awareness that someone who is HIV positive may not have symptoms supplemented the radio and television campaign.

Health, HIV/AIDS, Reproductive Health, Family Planning.

VISION had two primary objectives. The first was to assist USAID/Nigeria in developing a strategic framework for the future of its FP/RH programme. The second was to establish models of high-impact, high-performing FP/RH service delivery networks across 3 states - Bauchi, Enuguand, and Oyo. The programme models in these states were tested by the 15 LGA, 5 per state. The plan was to eventually implement these programmes on a larger, state-wide scale. Ultimately, the lessons learned from the experience will be used to inform the development of USAID's framework for its long-term strategy for Nigeria.