Problem Statement: Nigeria has largely been unable to provide quality social sector services for its people. The results are high child and maternal morbidity and mortality. Fertility is high, birth intervals are short, and contraceptive prevalence is low. As a result, about 20 percent of Nigerian children will die before their fifth birthday, while a Nigerian woman dies every three minutes from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Investing In People Strategy: IIP will build on the powerful linkages in the health sector and strategically integrate programs, in seven core states (Bauchi, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory. IIP will improve the quality of health services by increasing the number of health providers and institutions who adhere to national standards of practice. Political and budget support for health will be strengthened and broadened by engaging civil society organizations, the media and the private sector in the policy and advocacy process. IIP will work to expand demand for services and commodities at the local level through capacity-building of local government authorities, community coalitions and civil society organizations. IIP will also focus on increasing access to health services and supplies, which will result in better utilized health facilities and regular availability of commodities and supplies.

Expected Results: Improvement in the health status of 20 million men, women, adolescents, and children, who constitute 66% of the total population in the participating local government areas in the seven core program states. Specific five year targets include:

• 8 million children under five will be reached by polio eradication, vitamin A supplementation, and malaria prevention and treatment interventions.
• 10 million women of reproductive age will be reached with family planning and reproductive health services, while unintended or mistimed pregnancies will be prevented through behavior change communication. Emergency obstetric and neonatal care coupled with prevention and treatment of obstetric fistula services will be provided.
  

Activities:

• Community Participation for Action in the Social Sector (COMPASS) Project
• Enabling HIV/AIDS, TB and Social Sector Environment (ENHANSE) Project
• Society for Family Health (SFH)/PSI Social Marketing of Pre-packaged Malaria Treatment & Contraceptives
• Maternal and Child Health and Family Planning and Reproductive Health programs: Access to Clinical and Community Maternal, Neonatal and Women's Health Services (ACCESS), Access to Quality Use in reproductive Health (ACQUIRE), COMPASS, PSP-ONE, DELIVER, Voice of America (VOA), Society for Family Health (SFH), Improved Reproductive Health in Nigeria (IRHIN).
• NetMark: Increased access to insecticide treated nets through the commercial sector
  

Partnerships: Global Development Alliances

• ExxonMobil and NetMark on increasing access to Insecticide Treated Nets
• Sygenta and Access to Clinical and Community Maternal, Neonatal and Women's Health Services (ACCESS)