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The “Improving Nigeria’s Capacity to Use Data of Registered Stillbirths for Decision Making (SPEED Project)” has pioneered the country’s first real-time stillbirth reporting, along with quarterly still-birth national data reporting to support budgeting and work planning.

SPEED Project Principal Investigator, Mrs Oghome Emembo revealed these achievements at the project’s dissemination and close-out meeting which held at the IHVN Campus in Abuja.

SPEED Project was implemented by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN)-International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) from September 2023 – March 2025. 

According to Mrs. Emembo, during the 18-month project implementation period, the project analysed still-births data from 2014 to 2023 from the Federal Ministry of Health’s DHIS platform and spearheaded actions to use data for process change.

“Data revealed that one in 40 pregnancies in Nigeria ends in a still-birth. Still-birth rate is 24 per 1000 live births and this is currently twice the expected target of the Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) Global Target of 12 per 1000 live births by 2030.

The project achieved real-time reporting of still-births through publishing of still-births dashboard on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s website. Our activities also stimulated an evidence-based programmatic response from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the expansion of the “Helping Babies Breathe” program to Zamfara state in Northern Nigeria. This is a welcome development as Zamfara state has the highest still birth rate of 53 per 1000 live births,” she said.

She added that SPEED project also facilitated a review of the National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) still birth data collection tool to improve collection and reporting of stillbirth data in Nigeria.

Mrs. Emembo said still birth is a “disheartening tragedy and a silent crisis” in the country and called for sustained actions to prevent it.

At the meeting IRCE Coordinator, Dr. Evaesi Okpokoro thanked stakeholders from the government, media, civil society, medical professionals and advocacy groups for making SPEED project a success. He called for continued advocacy at the state level to reduce still-birth rates.

For sustainability of the project’s impact, the project constituted two groups, namely the “Media Against Stillbirths” and the “Still-Birth Data Use Advocacy” groups.

As part of activities to observe World Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2025, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has participated in events aimed at raising awareness and combating the TB epidemic in Nigeria.

Along with the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Program (NTBLCP) and other stakeholders, IHVN took part in a road walk in Abuja, a community outreach program and a ministerial press briefing in Abuja.

At the Ministerial Press Briefing, IHVN Senior Information Education and Communications Manager, Ms. Uzoma Nwofor said that “For over 20 years, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has remained a formidable partner in Nigeria’s fight against TB and HIV. Since 2019, IHVN has played a pivotal role in expanding TB case detection through private healthcare provider engagement, rapid diagnostics, and community-based interventions.”

She emphasized the need for collaboration and  added that “Through the Global Fund-supported grant (2021–2023), IHVN optimized over 400 GeneXpert diagnostic sites and facilitated the deployment of other rapid molecular diagnostic platforms nationwide. Under the current Global Fund Grant Cycle 7 (2024–2026), we are supporting the deployment of over 190 portable digital X-ray systems enabled with artificial intelligence for TB screening in high-burden areas. Between 2021 – 2024 alone, IHVN-supported facilities tested over 3.5 million individuals, leading to the detection and notification of more than 350,000 TB cases, significantly contributing to Nigeria’s national case notification targets.”

IHVN also joined in an awareness campaign to  Sauka Community along Airport Road in Lugbe where Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, pledged an additional ₦1 billion to combat TB in Nigeria, reaffirming her commitment to ending the disease by 2030.

“The statistics from the World Health Organization’s 2024 Global TB Report are alarming. In Nigeria, one person dies of TB every seven minutes. I will continue to advocate for increased funding and policy reforms to strengthen TB control efforts, as well as mobilize resources and partnerships to support TB awareness and treatment programs,” she stated.

Since 2019, IHVN has played a pivotal role in expanding TB case detection through private healthcare provider engagement, rapid diagnostics, and community-based interventions. Under the Global Fund-supported 2024–2026 Grant, IHVN continues to expand its community-based TB case-finding efforts, deploying active case-finding teams in rural and underserved areas. These teams, composed of community health workers, mentor mothers, and sample movers, facilitate screening, sample collection, and transportation to diagnostic centers, ensuring that no patient is left behind.

In fostering an excellent work culture and staff performance, the Executive Management of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has initiated the “Employee Recognition Awards” to recognize “Employees of the Month” and “Employee of the Year.”

According to the IHVN Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Olu Alabi, this recognition covers overall employee performance in dressing, innovation, teamwork, productivity, efficiency, leadership and interpersonal skills, punctuality, and adherence to company values and principles, amongst other things.

For March 2025, IHVN Celebrates, Bello Zayyan Mohammed, Saheedat Ibrahim, Onyekachi Nwanyanwu, Daniel Ossom and Paschal Lojah whose performance stood out in their teams.

Three hearty cheers to our March star performers!

The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) and Plateau State University, Bokkos have met to discuss partnership in research and medical laboratory science education.

At the meeting which held at the IHVN Campus in Abuja, PLASU Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Shadrack Best said that the courtesy visit to the Institute is in furtherance of their desire to learn and embrace best practices in virology.

“We run academic programs, we do research, we have laboratories seeking upgrade and transformation in tandem with modern health practices. We are growing and very ambitious as we grow. We are looking for people to hold our hands. Particularly, we have a Faculty of Medical Sciences with degree programs in nursing, medical laboratory science and public health. It is becoming a stepping stone to our medical program because we intend to receive our pioneer medical students in October or November this year.”

Prof. Best requested for support for the university’s medical laboratory program in terms of equipment and internship or mentorship of its students. He thanked the IHVN CEO, Dr. Patrick Dakum for his diligent service in improving the health of Nigerians.

While welcoming the guests, Dr. Dakum said that the Institute is committed to its mission of being a center of excellence in capacity building, research and ensuring equitable access to quality health services through innovative and evidence-based services.

He traced the Institute’s long-standing relationship with Plateau State since inception and the establishment of the Plateau State Human Virology Research Center (PLASVIREC) named after the co-discoverer of the HIV virus and founder of the Institute of Human Virology, Baltimore, Prof. Robert Gallo.

Dr. Dakum stated that IHVN is providing technical support to PLASVIREC.  

“PLASVIREC is already doing some research and it will be best fit for the research arm of your medical school.”

He expressed the willingness of the Institute to partner in equipping students with skills in laboratory equipment maintenance, quality assurance and grant applications.

Also present at the meeting was PLASU Head of Internal Administration Vice Chancellor’s Office, Yitkyim Datong, IHVN Director Special Projects, Dr. Aderonke Agbaje, IHVN Technical Advisor, Mr. Abubakar Abdullahi and Coordinator of the International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE), Dr. Evaesi Okpokoro amongst others.