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Nigeria has Africa’s biggest population. And it’s still growing at 3% a year. A lack of family planning is one reason – many women and girls want contraception – but like millions around the world – can’t get it. But that could be about to change, thanks to a pilot project run by Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN), IPPF’s national member. It’s proving a huge success. This is its story, told by the women whose lives it has changed and the people working to change them. LAUNCH THE INTERACTIVE STORY

On the ground in Nigeria, one of programme officers explains why outreach is so successful: “The project was a one-stop shop which brought services together. So a woman could have screening for breast and cervical cancer, counselling and have access to all methods of family planning at the same place. Also if a woman was detected with early stage of cervical cancer, we were able to carry out a curative operation."

Olusula, 40, is a Community Health Extension Worker in Nigeria. "I refer clients through vouchers to the facility of their choice for long acting and reversible contraceptive methods too", she says.

Emiade Kudirat, 24, is a Community Health Extension Worker doing outreach in Nigeria. She specializes in the Sayana Press - a three-month, progestin-only injectable contraceptive favoured for its convenience in administration and portability. One patient, 24-year-old Bukola Polpoola, says she is happy that her treatment was free and easy.

Shodunke Mary, 53, has been a midwife from the Local Government Area Council for seven years in Nigeria. Now she is working with PPFN providing family planning counselling and a range of integrated sexual and reproductive health services. In addition, Mary also conducts on the job training to other facilities which are providing services for the PPFN model. "The model used by PPFN is successful because the services we provide are free, the providers are motivated and the community leaders are also involved in the implementation. Also, the commodities and equipment are always available."

"As a child I loved the medical profession so much. The uniforms of the health workers always caught my eyes. And I knew one day, I would be wearing one of those uniforms serving my community.”   Latifat Balogun explains how her childhood experiences led her to decide to train and work as a Community Health Extension Worker in Nigeria. She has been with PPFN for 20 years.

"I decided to use this clinic because I heard a lot of success stories about it.   I trust their judgment that is why I am here.”  Taiwo Ogunfayo, a 33-year-old interior decorator, is a client at the Liberty Stadium Clinic – one of Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) facilities in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital in South West Nigeria. "It was through the outreach service in my community that I found out about PPFN. All the family planning methods are free if you can't afford to pay. There is no cost to the patient."  

IPPF's Member Association in Nigeria, the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN), piloted a successful project over 9 months around family planning. It had a specific focus on accessing people who would not ordinarily be reached through services and worked with local partners to ensure that no one was left behind.  This project, funded by the Gates Foundation, exceeded targets significantly and has the potential to be rolled out in Nigeria and other countries. It has been successful in establishing new users of contraception and other sexual and reproductive health services.