Targeted States High Impact Project (TSHIP)

Nigeria, with a population of more than 140 million, is one of the ten most-populous countries in the world. Despite the country's immense resources, a significant number of people live in extreme poverty. The health system has been ignored for more than 20 years. This has led to devastating health outcomes.Each year, approximately one million Nigerian children die from vaccine-preventable illnesses, malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea before their fifth birthday. Of every 100,000 live births, 1,549 women die. According to a 2008 Report on the State of the World's Mothers (Save the Children), Nigeria is one of the worst places in the world to be a mother.The worst situations are consistently found in the northeastern and northwestern regions of the country where Bauchi and Sokoto States are located. Both states face huge challenges bringing health care service quality and use to international standards.In response, TSHIP works to establish strong and durable bonds between community institutions and the healthcare delivery system in every ward of the two states, with measurably improved household practices and increased use of services.The project implements an integrated package to help state and local governments improve primary health care services and management by filling gaps in capacity, building on institutional strengths, and improving each household's ability to protect and promote its own health. Strategies focus on applying standards-based management to improve quality and performance; forging partnerships; increasing existing strengths; strengthening weak links; integrating maternal, newborn, child health, and family planning/reproductive health (MNCH and FP/RH) services; harmonizing methods for community engagement and mobilization; and transforming gender relations.Visit Tship website