Health Care and Support Initiative. (HCSI ) is an indigenous not for profit organization committed to improving quality of life of under-served and vulnerable communities in Nigeria. HCSI has grown to become the leading Nigerian NGO in the FP/RH field. In 2008 HCSI was rated by the independent observer, AIDSPAN, as the best indigenous NGO globally, and the sixth best performing Principal Recipient of the Global Fund project globally. HCSI has, within our three decades of existence, successfully managed and implemented over 120 innovative reproductive health and development projects in all the states of the Federation and neighboring African countries. Most of these have gained national and international recognition and are being replicated by organizations nationwide.
In the last 3 decades of HCSI existence, the organization has conducted several training programmes designed to empower trainees and help them develop unique competencies in their areas of operation. Our target is both health and non-health professional who are involved in health care including direct service delievery, Health promotion/education, Advocacy, Management and Research Monitoring and Evaluation. We have over the years trained professionals from the private, public and the NGO sectors.
The trainings organized by HCSI have substantially impacted on individuals and communities at the micro level and the nation at the macro level. HCSI provides technical support to national institutions in developing capacity and effective systems to manage and coordinate programmes relating to HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. HCSI is also at the forefront of influencing and participating in the development of national policies, strategic framework and national guidelines especially those relating to family planning, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, adolescent health and development, malaria and tuberculosis.
HCSI ’s collaboration with Federal Ministries of Health and Education have also resulted in development of various training manuals, policies and protocols in areas of sexual and reproductive health, adolescent reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, NHMIS and national strategic plans for TB, malaria and HIV.
through its efforts to establish financial independence and resilience, introduced the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) to communities. By providing training and guidance on setting up and managing these groups, the project helped community members develop financial literacy, record-keeping skills, and a culture of regular contributions. This promoted transparency, accountability, and democratic decision-making within the VSLA groups, enabling participants to take control of their financial futures. One of the notable success stories is that of Mrs. Abiojoga Helen, a community member with ID number EDO/ORE/DHSP/946. Through the VSLA platform, Mrs. Helen was able to save enough money to invest in her child’s education. She used her savings to pay off outstanding school fees and now no longer has to worry about delayed payments. Her financial stability has freed her from the burden of exploitative money lenders, and she can now afford to pay her child's school fees on time, ensuring continuous education. In addition to financial empowerment, the ICHSSA 2 project also made significant strides in education support. One young boy, who had dropped out of school after the death of his HIV-positive parents, was successfully re-enrolled through the project's education intervention. With continued support and counseling, he not only returned to school but also began excelling academically. Today, he is on track to attend college, thanks to the comprehensive care and opportunities provided by the project. Both stories reflect the broader impact of the HCSI ICHSSA 2 project in uplifting vulnerable individuals and fostering both financial independence and educational success, creating lasting change in the lives of beneficiaries and their communities.
HCSI service delivery areas include: Men & Women’s Health; Maternal and Newborn Child Health; Sexual & Reproductive health (including Family Planning); HIV & AIDS prevention, care and support; TB prevention, care and support programs; Malaria prevention & Case Management; Orphans &Vulnerable Children (OVC); Home-Based Care & Adherence; and Adolescents & Youth Programs (including young people with Disability). Our key strategies include: Capacity building/training, Community-Based programming, Monitoring, Evaluation & Operations Research, Health Consultancy Services, Health Infrastructural Upgrading, Procurement, Monitoring and Evaluation, Clinical & Service provision, Technical assistance, Information, Education & Communication, Advocacy, Stakeholders’ Mobilisation & Participation and Quality Improvement as well as community and health systems strengthening.