The Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria is a non profit, non government organization developed by a group of reform minded Nigerians who have come together in response to the deplorable health system and health status of Nigeria. The foundation aims to support and help to sustain Health Reform Agenda in the country. The Foundation is registered in Nigeria AS an incorporated registered Trustee with Registration number: CAC/IT/NO 17235. It strives to support the government to achieve its health sector reform objectives. HERFON’s main areas of focus are: health systems, immunization, and HIV/AIDS.

The origin of the Foundation was the Change Agent Programme (CAP) which was funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). CAP/HERFON has since trained about 200 (two hundred) change agents [CAs] drawn from various stakeholders across the country based on the premise that sustainable reform in Nigeria will be Nigeria-owned and led, but that change may be catalyzed through support from those leading the change. These CAs have assisted in accomplishing the various reform agenda of the government. The current Health Minister of Nigeria, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo was the Director of CAP from 2001 – June 2003.

HERFON has a Board of Trustees comprising some of the best hands and brains in Health sector Reforms in the country, who drive the policies of the organization and are responsible to about 1,000 members/change agents spread across the 36 States and FCT Abuja. Members consist of senior Health officials, media persons, religious and opinion leaders in various positions. These members, in addition to undertaking various works for the foundation have their voices in management through their Zonal Coordinators. The 6 Zonal Coordinators with 2 members of the BOT constitute the Executive Committee.

Within the past few years of its birth, HERFON has played pioneering and prominent roles in the following areas within the Health sector reform continuum: Development of a New National Health Policy and National Health Act, Designing and implementing the Construction of a Sub National Health Account in Ekiti State, and Designing and implementing the development of a costed Strategic Health Plan for Jigawa State. Others are: A Study of Private Health Care Providers in Benue and Enugu States of Nigeria, A comprehensive assessment of Immunization services in Benue State, and Training of Primary Health Care workers in Ohimin Local Government Area of Benue State on the management of health data. In addition, a Coalition (network) of NGOs, CBOs and FBOs in Ekiti for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS and Care for people living with AIDS was established, just as Community Mobilization for Prevention Care and Support for HIV/AIDS in three Local Government areas in Ekiti State took place, etc.

HERFON remains committed to supporting the Federal Ministry of Health [FMOH] to achieve its stated health sector reform objectives of improving the stewardship role of Government; strengthening the National Health System and its management; reducing the burden of disease; improving health resources and their management; improving access to quality health services; improving consumers awareness and community involvement; and promoting effective partnership, collaboration and coordination. Towards this end, HERFON is supporting the Federal Ministry of Health and the states to empower the States to deliver/implement projects towards achieving health-related MDGs.

HERFON received a grant of 3.5 m Great Britain Pounds from DFID to pursue its objectives in the areas of Change Agents development, Technical Assistant to Change Agents and Stakeholders to enable them improve Health Systems, Develop and Propagate Reform Agenda, Support research on Health Sector Reform (particularly strengthening Routine Immunization), Advocacy and support for Health Sector Reform and the establishment of an independent Resource Centre. It is involved in the strengthening and supporting primary health care [PHC] systems in state s of the Federation including Yobe, Katsina, Nassarawa, Ogun, Bayelsa and Ebonyi; and is currently implementing activities towards the publication of Nigeria Health Review (NHR) and the organization of management training programmes for the improvement of management manpower/capacity in the health sector.

CAs are now involved in the implementation of projects in the National Programme on Immunisation (NPI) within the 6 (six) EU PRIME States in Nigeria namely: Kebbi, Gombe, Plateau, Osun, Abia and Cross River. The organization participated actively in the 14th edition of the biennial International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, otherwise known as ICASA in Abuja as members of its Board, Executive Committee and Management chaired sessions or made presentation. The HERFON Resource Centre was also made available FREE to all conference participants for their use, including access to the internet and use of resource/IEC materials. It produced and freely distributed handbills, IEC materials and publications to conference participants.

As part of its continuing effort to promote health sector reform in Nigeria, HERFON organized a multi-stakeholders roundtable on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) during the last National Council on Health meeting held in Jalingo, Taraba State. The Foundation has also been contracted by the E.U. PRIME Project to manage its Change Agents Programme component on development of Immunization Change Agents for three years. It was also contracted by the HSDP II (World Bank/ FMOH) Project to develop and manage Change Agents on Tertiary Health Care Reform. The organization is ever ready to cooperate with and or work for organizations with related interests.

HERFON is also partnering with Partnerships for transforming health systems (PATHS) in the Peer and Participatory Rapid Health Appraisal for Action (PPRHAA) - a simple but fairly comprehensive process of appraising PHC services, health centres and hospitals especially in resource-poor settings, as well as being a quick method of appraisal with a focus on health management, which leads to action by the health services and the communities that use them. HERFON participated in the Training of Trainers workshop for PPRHAA, organized by DFID/PATHS for the purpose of rolling out PPRHAA in Nigeria.

PATHS has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with HERFON to implement the establishment of coalitions of NGOs, CBOs, FBOs, opinion leaders, etc. on Health Sector Reform (HSR). The coalitions are to ensure the sustainability of HSR programs in the States, especially beyond the present administrations.