Report on Advocacy Visit to the Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Board on maximizing the use of Text4Life

 

Date & Time: 22nd September, 2025, 2.15 pm prompt

Venue: Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (AKSPHDA)

Participants:

  1. WHARC team (Dr. Ken Toby Maduako, Dr. Emomine Odjesa, and Ms Success Miyepre)
  2. Text4Life CSO- Dr Ekanem U. Inyang (Executive Chairman/CEO of Applicants Welfare and Development Centre)
  3. Dr. David Umoh (Director, Disease Control and Immunization, AKSPHDA)- A representative of the Executive Secretary of the AKSPHDA.

 

  1. Purpose of the Visit

The advocacy team visited to present and discuss the Text4Life initiative. Text4Life is a digital health intervention designed to strengthen primary health care centres (PHC) delivery of sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS), including that pertaining to gender-based violence. It does this by reducing delay to the utilization of these services, thereby improving emergency response. The aim of the advocacy was to discuss sustainability of the programme through its integration into the state’s health system by the AKSPHDA.

 

  1. Presentation Highlights

 

Text4Life Concept:

  • A two-way SMS/USSD-based alert system linking community members in need of SRHS with PHC facilities through Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)/Ward Development Centres (WDCs).
  • Operates with zero data cost, making it accessible even in low-resource settings.
  • Already implemented in nine states and 320 communities, with over 3,500 reports logged since 2019.

 

Key Benefits:

  • Reduces the three delays implicated in hindering the prompt access to quality SRHS. These are: delay in the decision to seek care, delay in reaching the health facility, and delay in receiving adequate care at the health facility.
  • Enhances emergency response for sexual and reproductive health care at the PHCs.
  • Improves coordination between communities, CSOs/WDCs, and PHCs.

 

Evidence of Impact:

  • Documented success stories where Text4Life bridged service gaps.
  • Supported by UNFPA and piloted under IDRC-funded projects.

 

  1. Issues and Concerns Raised

 

  • State government ownership: Need for institutional ownership by the AKSPHDA to avoid dependency on external funding.
    • Technology and access: Due to damage and loss of the facility-owned phones, there is a need for a user-friendly mobile app compatible with personal devices, thus allowing for integration into the personal phones of health workers.
    • Continues training: need for continues training of health care workers at the PHCs on the use of Text4Life, as a contribution to the sustainability of its use. This is important due to the continues transfer, relocation, or retirement of health care workers.
    • Monitoring & Supervision: Strong demand for structured supervision, reporting, and feedback mechanisms to guarantee effectiveness. This is important due to complains from the health care workers of not adequately managing women in need of SRHS, especially in relation to GBV, due to fear emanating from the risk of being harmed by the community members. Some of the GBV victims in the communities were also scared of coming to the PHCs to receive care.

A round table discussion on the ways to sustain Text4life in the three LGAs in Akwa Ibom State, with WHARC team, Text4Life CSO, and Dr. David Umoh present.

Presentation of Souvenirs by the WHARC team lead, Dr Ken Toby Maduako, to Dr. David Umoh.

A group photograph after the advocacy visit was completed, with WHARC team, Text4Life CSO, and Dr. David Umoh present.