MSI Nigeria strengthens national reproductive health data systems through advocacy
August 21, 2025
The advocacy team contributed to the improvement of data systems in Nigeria to collect much-needed reproductive health data.
Advocacy to strengthen national health data systems is critical to ensuring that women and girls’ needs are visible in policy and programming. MSI Nigeria has been a leading voice in this effort, contributing to the review and pilot of the National Health Management Information Systems tool to improve reporting for sexual and reproductive health and rights.
The Demographic and Health Surveys and Health Management Information Systems are crucial for tracking population, health and other indicators in low- and middle-income countries. These surveys are foundational to health systems’ efficiency, planning and programming.
With recent USAID funding cuts, the impact on these information systems will be harder to track and will be on a case-by-case basis. At this time of uncertainty, MSI’s advocacy to maintain and strengthen these systems is more important than ever. Without accurate data, it becomes increasingly difficult to evaluate impacts and to guide sexual and reproductive healthcare responses.
MSI Nigeria’s push for the inclusion of improved family planning data tracking will lead to a more detailed understanding of the needs of Nigerian women and girls. This will directly support accuracy in planning and forecasting.
Working in partnership with others, MSI Nigeria supported the federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with the review of the National Health Management Information Systems tool and updates to the proposed family planning register with significant indicator improvements including:
- Capturing data on individuals with disabilities, promoting inclusivity and targeted support
- Recognition of Levoplant as a type of implant
- Inclusion of immediate and extended postpartum family planning methods on the monthly summary form
- Monitoring of injectable contraception including self-injection and quantity of doses taken at home, for more accurate accounting
- Separate tracking of vasectomy and bilateral tubal ligation to provide more detailed insights into permanent method usage
MSI Nigeria also supported the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to pilot the tools in Ebonyi and Kaduna States. A ‘training of trainers’ successfully equipped facilitators with the necessary skills to manage and use the health data tools.
Ibrahim Abubakar, representitive of the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, noted: “The pilot of the newly revised NHMIS tools presented a unique opportunity to test the practicality, user-friendliness, and effectiveness of the updated tools in real-world settings.”
By advocating for stronger, more inclusive data systems, MSI Nigeria is helping ensure that reproductive health programming is informed by accurate information and can better respond to the needs of women and girls across Nigeria. This progress highlights the importance of continued advocacy investment and collaboration with governments to respond to population needs and drive lasting improvements in health outcomes.
