Nigeria
En français
HKI began working in Nigeria in 1999 with programs to control onchocerciasis. Since then, HKI has expanded its programs to provide other services in eye health and nutrition. Current activities include:
Program Descriptions:
Vitamin A Supplementation: A food consumption and nutrition survey conducted in Nigeria between 2001 and 2003 revealed that almost 30% of Nigerian children have vitamin A deficiency (VAD). VAD accounts for about 25% of the under-five mortality in Nigeria. In response, HKI joined the federal governments and partners to form a group committed to providing optimum vitamin A coverage to a target population of children under-five. The approach uses community directed distributors (CDDs) who already distribute ivermectin to control onchocerciasis to include vitamin a supplementation in the campaign and provide communities with nutritional education.
Supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and Micronutrient Initiative (MI), HKI , in partnership with four other organizations, provides leadership, financial support and program resources to nine states in the country. The programs provided vitamin A to 88% of children under-five or 4,615,300 children in June, 2007. HKI aims to double this figure and extend services to other states by the end of 2008.
Treatment of Cataract: Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and accounts for over 50% of blindness in developing countries, especially in impoverished ones such as Nigeria. The cause of cataract is unknown, yet it can be effectively treated by surgery. HKI implements its model of comprehensive cataract care by training surgeons, nurses and community health workers, setting up Direct Referral Services (DRS) and providing surgical equipment. HKI works to develop safe surgeries and effective follow-up for adults and promotes timely detection and treatment of cataract in children. In 2005, HKI's cataract program surpassed its target of 300 cataract surgeries and restored the sight of almost 400 eligible patients in Nigeria.
Integrated Childhood Blindness Prevention: In May, 2007, the Integrated Childhood Blindness Prevention project screened 2,893 people for cataract and 1,254 for refractive errors in Nigeria. The goal of the program was to establish a sustainable model for integrated children’s eye care by developing the capacity of existing community health and eye care partners, promoting awareness of children’s eye health within communities, and providing high-quality and increased access to children’s eye services. Since its inception, 269 people have been provided with eye glasses, 22 had minor eye surgeries and 189 underwent surgery for cataract including 6 children. In addition, 371 minor eye ailments were treated.
The DRS approach allows for screening for refractive errors, minor eye ailments, and childhood cataract. Cataract casse identified at this level are referred to Primary Health Care for further screening and possible referral for surgery. The CDDs, Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), Traditional Healers, health workers and teachers were trained on primary eye care (PEC) by the state mobile team to carry out these DRS activities. The project covered five DRS, which expanded to ten in mid-2008 to double the number of beneficiaries.
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ChildVision Project: The ChildVision project ran from 2001-2006 to manage congenital and developmental cataract of children in hard-to-reach, rural, onchocerciasis-endemic areas. In collaboration with the National Eye Center in Kaduna, a pediatric ophthalmology unit was established to undertake this specialized service. Under this project, six master trainers, 75 Primary Health Care (PHC) workers, and 515 community volunteers were trained in Primary Eye Care (PEC). All of the trained PHC workers were provided with PEC kits containing essential drugs, equipment, and materials to facilitate services.
Onchocerciasis: Nigeria carries 40% of the global burden of onchocerciasis (river blindness). HKI supports blindness prevention activities through the implementation of onchocerciasis control in close collaboration with the government of Nigeria, the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC), and the endemic communities. Onchocerciasis can be effectively controlled through an annual dose of ivermectin. HKI supports program implementation and treatment through the Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) strategy. In 2006, treatment coverage reached 84% (1,814,200 people) of the targeted population. In 2007, HKI facilitated the training of 1,936 health workers and 4,495 community volunteers, the community-directed drug distributors, who are essential to the success of the program.
Trachoma Control: HKI began its trachoma control in 2000 with the first population-based trachoma prevalence survey for the country. The project’s endemic areas have a total population of 3.8 million people. The program promotes the adoption of the community-based S.A.F.E. (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, Environmental improvement) treatment strategy. Treatment of trachoma infections with eye ointment was introduced within schools, community eye screenings, and promoted through community education.
HKI’s activities include community mobilization and education, community-based screening, antibiotic treatments, and eyelid surgery. Since 2007, over 58,500 were screened, almost 10,000 patients with active trachoma infections were treated through non-invasive methods, and over 15,900 children in 40 primary schools were screened for infections. HKI trained surgeons, health community workers and teachers in appropriate treatment methods. HKI works with the National Trachoma Programme to acquire Zithromax(R), the antibiotic donated by Pfizer, for mass treatment distribution. Plans to expand the program are currently underway at the national level.
Efficacy Study of School Feeding Program: HKI, in partnership with a consortium that includes Cornell University, Tetra-Pak, and the Government of Nasarawa State, is studying the impact of a nutrition drink known as Nutri-Sip with funding provided by Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). Nutri-Sip is the main commodity for a school feeding program that targets over 450,000 students. HKI is working with the Stellenbosch University in South Africa to do a biochemical analysis of 1,200 samples to help assess the impact of the school feeding program on anthropometric indices of the beneficiaries (measurements indicating appropriate growth), school enrollments, school retention, and cognitive skills enhancement/ performance.
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Food Fortification: One of the most cost-effective strategies to address vitamin and mineral deficiencies is food fortification, or infusing essential vitamins and minerals to staple condiments, such as cooking oil or wheat flour. In collaboration with The Monetary and Economic Union of West Africa (UMEOA) and other partners, HKI has embarked on a regional food fortification in West Africa, including Nigeria, to make fortification of cooking oil with vitamin A and wheat flour with iron and folic acid required by law.
HKI works with companies that produce completely refined cotton seed oil that is of the highest quality; gossypol is eliminated from their crude cotton seed oil through appropriate refining process.
Program Partners:
- A2Z
- African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC)
- Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
- Chevron Oil
- GAIN
- Government of Nigeria
- Japanese Embassy
- Micronutrient Initiative
- National Eye Center, Kaduna
- National Primary Health Care Development Agency
- NGDOs coalition (7 member organization)
- State & Local Governments (3 states and 36 Local Government Area partners)
- UNICEF
- USAID
Key Staff:
- Dr. Stephen Adah - Interim Country Director
- Elisha Agagak - Project Officer, Onchocerciasis
- Mrs. Abigail Ishaya Nyam - Project Officer, Nutrition
- Mrs. Lucy Gundu - Senior Project Accountant
- Umar Saleh – IT/Administrative Secretary
Last updated: July, 2008
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