Our Approach

Work Approach and Milestones

We focus on addressing complex and fundamental system challenges that ultimately transform the health and social sectors in Africa.

HSDF focuses on closing these gaps using evidence, rigor and continuous improvement to achieve sustainable results at scale.

Our approach is to improve existing processes and where necessary, deviate from the status quo to introduce innovative and transformative approaches from concept to implementation.

Key Milestones

For over a decade, HSDF has been dedicated to saving lives and livelihoods by transforming the health and social sector landscape in Africa using better evidence for decision making, accountability and action.

2011

Delivery unit established under Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health

2012

Saving One Million Lives (SOML) initiative launched by the President of Nigeria
Delivery unit for SOML established

2013

HSDF incorporated and active in four states
SOML PDU transition to HSDF commenced

2014

HSDF activities expanded to eight more states and the FCT (12 in total)
SOML program delivery unit fully transitioned into HSDF

2015

HSDF now active in the FCT and 14 states across all six geopolitical zones

2018 and beyond

HSDF engagements expand beyond Nigeria to include the US, the Gambia, Liberia, and Togo

Board of Directors

With distinct backgrounds, broad experience and a comprehensive range of technical expertise, HSDF’s board is dedicated to our mission of saving lives and livelihoods by transforming the health and social sector landscape in Africa using better evidence for decision making, accountability and action.

Chief executive officer

Dr. Kelechi Ohiri

Master of Public Health, Harvard UniversityMaster of Science in Health Policy and Management, Harvard UniversityDoctor of Medicine, University of Lagos

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chief operating officer

Olo Okoye

Master of Public Health, Harvard UniversityMaster of Science in Health Policy and Management, Harvard UniversityDoctor of Medicine, University of Lagos

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Director, Corporate Services

Heidi Wendisch

Bachelor of Law, University of JosMaster of Arts in Human Resource Management, University of Westminster

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Chairman, Board of Trustees

Dr Muntaqa
Umar-Sadiq

Master of Philosophy in Bioscience Enterprise, University of CambridgeBachelor of Science in Management (Finance and Health Economics), Tanaka Business School

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Trustee

Dr. Chizoba
Wonodi

Doctorate in Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Master in Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

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Trustee

Dr Abdu
Mukhtar

Master in Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy SchoolMaster in Business Administration, Harvard Business School

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Our Programs

“To save lives and livelihoods by transforming the health and social sector landscape in Africa using better evidence for decision making, accountability and action.”

HSDF works on projects across the health and social sector in Africa, addressing complex and fundamental systems challenges. Within the health sector, we focus on the core pillars of health systems strengthening as well as priority disease and programmatic areas that improve health outcomes and reduce disease burden. We also address some of the social and environmental determinants of health and wellbeing through our engagement in the social sectors such as nutrition, water and sanitation, social safety nets etc.

Our core operational areas are

Health Systems Strengthening

Priority Public Health Programs

Other Sectors

Health Systems Strengthening

Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) like Nigeria and other West African countries have consistently recorded suboptimal results in health care delivery despite significant government and partner efforts along several programs.

Health sector program implementation has often ignored the weaknesses in the overall health system. This has been further revealed with recent epidemics such as the Ebola outbreak, Lassa Fever and the COVID-19 pandemic. These have emphasized the need for a focus on strengthening and rebuilding a more resilient health system. At HSDF, we support governments and other health sector stakeholders in redesigning health systems, adopting a diagnostic approach that helps inform bespoke solutions that are context specific.

Priority Public Health Programs

Overview

Across the African continent we are focused on addressing the public health challenges of vulnerable communities. We have prioritized specific areas that impact the overall health of the continent.

Through this function, we work with stakeholders at national and sub-national levels to sustain trained frontline health workers and to provide technical support. In these prioritized areas, our team is focused on eliminating the Mother to Child transmission of HIV/AIDS, diminishing Diabetes, and eradicating Malaria. Our expertise includes conceptual design, long-term strategy, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, knowledge curation, and dissemination. We have several years of experience working with many national and regional Technical Working Groups and Steering Committees to strengthen public health data management systems and improve evidence-based decisions.