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ACCESS – Access to Comprehensive Care and Essential Support Services

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> ACCESS – Access to Comprehensive Care and Essential Support Services

ACCESS – Access to Comprehensive Care and Essential Support Services

The Challenge

For millions of adolescent girls and young women across Nigeria, the path to accurate health information and quality reproductive health services is obstructed by multiple and compounding barriers. Stigma, misinformation, cultural norms, provider bias, and the absence of adolescent-responsive health services all combine to leave girls uninformed, unprotected, and underserved at a critical stage of their lives.

In Benue, Enugu, and Taraba States, where the ACCESS Programme operates, adolescent girls often have no trusted adult outside their immediate family to turn to for guidance on puberty, menstrual health, relationships, sexual and reproductive health, or safe health-seeking behaviour. Without accurate information and referral support, many girls face preventable risks including early pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, unsafe abortions, and poor maternal outcomes.

Addressing these challenges requires more than health facility improvements. It requires reaching girls in their own communities through trusted peers, building safe spaces for open conversations, and creating clear pathways to the services they need.

  • Taraba, Benue & Enugu
  • Status: Ongoing
  • Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
  • WCAHealth Options
  • Taraba, Benue & Enugu
  • Status: Ongoing
  • Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
  • WCAHealth Options

Our Approach

ACCESS uses a community-health system approach that combines peer mentorship, community engagement, referral strengthening, and adolescent-friendly service delivery. The programme works at both community and health facility levels, recognising that sustainable change requires engaging individuals, families, community leaders, and health systems together.

Big Sister Modal

At the centre of the ACCESS Programme is the Big Sister Model. Trained young women from within the community serve as mentors, educators, and referral guides for adolescent girls, known as Little Sisters. Through structured mentorship sessions, girls receive accurate ASRH information and safe spaces to discuss puberty, menstrual health, STIs, contraception, relationships, and health-seeking behaviour, without fear or stigma. Big Sisters are not outside experts. They are trusted community members, creating the conditions for honest, supportive conversations that girls cannot easily have elsewhere.

Knowledge Repository
Peer Mentorship and Safe Spaces

Trained Big Sisters lead structured mentorship sessions for cohorts of Little Sisters, providing accurate ASRH information, emotional support, and a safe space for girls to ask questions and discuss their health needs openly.

Referral Pathways and Follow-Up

Big Sisters actively link girls to essential health services including STI screening, HIV testing, contraceptive services, antenatal care, and post-abortion care, and conduct follow-up support to ensure girls complete treatment and continue accessing care.

Government and Community Ownership

Working directly with state and LGA health teams, adolescent health focal persons, PHC coordinators, and community leadership structures to strengthen local ownership, embed the programme in government systems, and ensure long-term sustainability.

Activities

Programme activities include

Recruitment and training of Big Sisters
Formation of Little Sister mentorship cohorts
Community-based ASRH education sessions
Referral and follow-up support
Supportive supervision and quality assurance visits
Youth champion engagement and community mobilisation
Development of contextualised IEC materials
Do You Want To Volunteer?
Collaborate and bring lasting change through purpose-driven work and real-world impact.
For volunteering inquires, email

info@wcafricahealth.org

Steps

Programme Delivery Pathway

A structured approach that ensures every programme is planned, delivered, and evaluated for maximum impact.

01
Recruit
02
Train
03
Mentor
04
Refer
05
Sustain

Key Results and Achievements

2,000+

Adolescent girls reached across 3 states

6 LGAs

Across Benue, Enugu and Taraba

2 Cohorts

Completed or underway in each state

~99-100%

Average cohort graduation rate

List of Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) Selected Facilities

Taraba State

S/N Zones State LGA Ward Facility Name Type of facility Level Phone number
1 North East Taraba lau Abbare I Abbare PHCC BEmONC Primary 07075552407
2 North East Taraba lau Lau Ii Bandawa Vinna Phc BEmONC Primary
3 North East Taraba zing Bitako Bitako Yali Phc BEmONC Primary 09123874349
5 North East Taraba zing Dinding Dinding Phc BEmONC Primary 07010209677
6 North East Taraba lau Donadda Donadda Phcc BEmONC Primary 07063168315
7 North East Taraba lau Garin Dogo Garin Dogo Phc BEmONC Primary 09160451066
8 North East Taraba lau Garin Magaji Garin Magaji Phcc BEmONC Primary 09161766531
9 North East Taraba lau Jim Lari Jimlari Health Centre BEmONC Primary 08131861874
10 North East Taraba zing Zing Aii Kakulu Phcc BEmONC Primary 09037223222
11 North East Taraba zing Monkin 'B' Kosensi Phcc BEmONC Primary 08148197686
12 North East Taraba zing Lamma Lamma Phcc BEmONC Primary 07084475354
13 North East Taraba lau LAU I Lau PHCC BEmONC Primary 08162217220
14 North East Taraba lau Mayo Lope Mayolope Phcc BEmONC Primary 07043208090
15 North East Taraba zing Monkin 'A' Monkin Maternal And Child Hc BEmONC Primary 08086220583
16 North East Taraba zing Bubong Nbosung Phcc BEmONC Primary 08037627475
17 North East Taraba zing Zing 'B' Tagalan Phcc BEmONC Primary 08108639666
18 North East Taraba zing Yakoko Yakoko Phc BEmONC Primary 07018362497
19 North East Taraba lau YITTI Yitti PHCC BEmONC Primary 09131942756
20 North East Taraba zing Zing A1 Zing Township Phc BEmONC Primary 08106869069
21 North East Taraba Lau Lau First Referral Hospital Lau CEmONC Secondary 08162217220
22 North East Taraba Zing Zing General Hospital Zing CEmONC Secondary
23 North East Taraba lau Dobeli DobeliPHCC BEmONC Primary 08133968044

Benue State

S/N Zones State LGA Ward Facility Name Type of facility Level Phone number
1 North Central Benue Gwer West Avihijime Mch Jor BEmONC Primary 08135320305
2 North Central Benue Gwer West Gbaange/Tongov Phc Tongov BEmONC Primary
3 North Central Benue Gwer West Ikyaghev Chc Naka BEmONC Primary 07077603145
4 North Central Benue Gwer West Mbabuande Phc Mbaakem BEmONC Primary 07089076576
5 North Central Benue Gwer West Mbachohon Eec Agagbe BEmONC Primary 08080249028
6 North Central Benue Gwer West Mbalosu CLINIC BEmONC Primary
7 North Central Benue Gwer West Mbapupuu/Tswarev Phc Mbapupuu BEmONC Primary 08160872562
8 North Central Benue Gwer West Merkyen Phc Kwashon BEmONC Primary 08160347406
9 North Central Benue Gwer West Nyamshi Phc Nyamshi BEmONC Primary 09013085379
10 North Central Benue Gwer West Saghev/Ukusu Phc Jimba BEmONC Primary
11 North Central Benue Gwer West Sengev Psp Abian BEmONC Primary
12 North Central Benue Gwer West Sengev/Yengev Phc Mbashija BEmONC Primary
13 North Central Benue Gwer West T/Mbesev Phc Onovmbaaondo BEmONC Primary
14 North Central Benue Gwer West Tijime Phc Aondona BEmONC Primary 08103334156
15 North Central Benue Gwer West Tyoughatee/Ijaha Phc Mbier BEmONC Primary 09027234317
16 North Central Benue Okpokwu Amejo Phc Otobi - Amejo BEmONC Primary
17 North Central Benue Okpokwu Ichama Ii Phc Ichama BEmONC Primary
18 North Central Benue Okpokwu Ojigo Phc Ojapo BEmONC Primary
19 North Central Benue Okpokwu Okonobo Phc Eboya BEmONC Primary
20 North Central Benue Okpokwu Okpaile/Ingle Phc Ogege BEmONC Primary
21 North Central Benue Okpokwu Okpoga Central Phc Okpoga BEmONC Primary
22 North Central Benue Okpokwu Okpoga North Phc Aidogodo BEmONC Primary
23 North Central Benue Okpokwu Okpoga South Phc Ikomuja BEmONC Primary
24 North Central Benue Okpokwu Ugbokolo Chc Ugbokolo BEmONC Primary
25 North Central Benue Okpokwu OKPOGA WEST EDE PHC BEmONC Primary
26 North Central Benue Okpokwu Ichama I Phc Ipole -Ichama BEmONC Primary
27 North Central Benue Okpokwu Eke Phc Olengbecho BEmONC Primary
28 North Central Benue Gwer West Naka General Hospital Naka CEmONC Secondary
29 North Central Benue Okpokwu Okpoga General Hospital Okpoga CEmONC Secondary

Enugu State

S/N Zones State LGA Ward Facility Name Type of facility Level Phone number
1 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Essodo 1 Aji H/C BEmONC Primary 08102399607
2 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Umuozzi 8 Amaja H/C BEmONC Primary 07069297921
3 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Ette Central Ette H/C BEmONC Primary 07042324896
4 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Essodo 2 Umuagam H/C BEmONC Primary 07039842471
5 South East Enugu Isi-Uzo Eha Iii Umujioru H/P BEmONC Primary
6 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Essodo 3 Umuogbo Ulo BEmONC Primary 08102399607
7 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Ette 1 Ijekpe H/C BEmONC Primary 09050375010
8 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Ette 2 Umuishi H/C BEmONC Primary 09050375010
9 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Ezzodo Uda H/C BEmONC Primary 07046558990
10 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Umuitodo 1 Amufie H/C BEmONC Primary 08063262519
11 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Umuitodo 2 Amachalla H/C BEmONC Primary 08075852059
12 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Umuitodo 3 Olido H/C BEmONC Primary 07046558990
13 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Umuozzi 10 Ikpamodo H/C BEmONC Primary 07069297921
14 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Umuozzi 2 Igogoro H/C BEmONC Primary 08037223575
15 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Umuozzi 4 Umuogbo Inyi H/C BEmONC Primary 08075852059
16 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Umuozzi 5 Ogrute H/C BEmONC Primary 0810219618
17 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Umuozzi 6 Onicha-Enugu H/C BEmONC Primary 08037223575
18 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Umuozzi 7 Umuida H/C BEmONC Primary 0810219618
19 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Umuozzi 9 Umuopu H/F BEmONC Primary 07042324896
20 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Umuozzi 3 Ugbaike H/C BEmONC Primary 08063262519
21 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Umuozzi 1 Aguibeje H/C BEmONC Primary 07039842471
22 South East Enugu Isi-Uzo Eha 4 Ogbuzor H/P BEmONC Primary
23 South East Enugu Isi-Uzo Eha Ii Eha-Amufu BEmONC Primary
24 South East Enugu Isi-Uzo Mbu I Mbu Amon H/C BEmONC Primary
25 South East Enugu Isi-Uzo Mbu Ii Mbu-Agudene H/C BEmONC Primary
26 South East Enugu Isi-Uzo Neke Ii Ugwuadaka H/P BEmONC Primary
27 South East Enugu Isi-Uzo Ikem I Ikem H/C BEmONC Primary
28 South East Enugu Isi-Uzo Umualor Egerum H/P BEmONC Primary
29 South East Enugu Isi-Uzo Ikem Ii Ebia H/C BEmONC Primary
30 South East Enugu Isi-Uzo Neke I Ugwuakparata BEmONC Primary
31 South East Enugu Isi-Uzo Isi-Uzo Ikem GH CEmONC Secondary
32 South East Enugu Igbo-Eze North Igbo-Eze North Enugu Ezike GH CEmONC Secondary

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