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TEMITOPE ALFRED

TEMITOPE ALFRED - 2019 Nominee
Position: SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST
Organization: POPULATION SERVICES INTERNATIONAL NIGERIA
Current Location: Nigeria, Africa
Master in Public Health from University of Ibadan
Additional Degrees and Certifications:
• Degree in Medical Physiology (BSc. Hons) , University of Lagos, Lagos, 2006
• Leadership in Strategic Health Communication (LSHC) Course, October 2017 by John Hopkins CCP and CCPN
• Human Centered Design Course- October 2016 by IDEO.org/ACUMEN
• Training on Supervisory and Coaching Skills for Managers, May 2016 by MSH
• Youth-friendly Health Service Provision Training, 2016 and 2011 respectively by SFH and AHI-
• Training on Coaching and Mentoring (of IPCAs), July 2015 by PSI/SFH
• DHIS 2 Training, December 2014 by SFH
• Training on Monitoring and Evaluation Framework using the Theory of Change, January 2014 by Pamoja, UK
• Sexuality Education for Children in Africa , August 2010 and June 2013 by Save the
• Children, Sweden
• Advocacy Strategy Development Training, September 2011 by AMANITARE
• Budget Monitoring and Expenditure Tracking training, June 2011 by AMANITARE
• Family Life and HIV Education (FLHE) Curriculum Training, March 2011 by AHI
• Proposal and Abstract writing training, December 2009 by Future Health Systems
• Project Monitoring and Evaluation Training -December 2008 by University of Ibadan
• Reproductive/Sexual Health, Prevention, Care and Support of HIV/AIDS, March 2007 by NYSC/UNICEF
Awards Received:
  • Award:
    Best Facilitator of the year
    Awarding Organization:
    Lifebuilders
    Date Awarded:
    January 1, 2008
75 Public Votes Reached!
She has made immense contributions on demand creation by educating and mobilizing more than 250,000 women of reproductive age on the benefits of family planning and addressing myths and barriers that deter women from getting family planning services. – Nominator
Describe your contributions to and achievements in family planning.

Over the last five years as a Health Communication expert with Society for Family Health and Population Services , Nigeria, I have worked in various in Ogun state and environs to increase the uptake of Family planning and other health services using change Communication strategies. Significant contributions include working with field agents called Interpersonal Communication agents to raise awareness and knowledge of over 300,000 women and adolescent girls on the types and benefits of family planning. Their myths, misconceptions and barriers that deter them from taking up services were addressed alongside their attitude; this increased the number of women that access services especially long acting methods in Ogun state.

What sparked your passion for family planning?

I met with a young woman of twenty-five years who already had 9 children (including one multiple birth) in a town in Ogun state. This really touched me as the woman started childbearing at 15 years and was very less knowledgeable about what to do. During my discussion with her, I understood she would have been educated, spaced her children and limited her number of children if she had been empowered. This also inspired me in a special way to cater for the planning/contraceptive needs of adolescent girls.

Give one or two examples of how you display leadership in your family planning work.:

I led a high impact advocacy to the ‘Oba’ (Community Head) and Chiefs of a rural community (Imeko-) that had very low knowledge and use of family planning with unsupportive men. The advocacy need was uncovered when the men were very unsupportive and fearful the women will become promiscuous (another myth here) after using a planning method. The led to the Oba’s wife taking up a method and men supporting their partners to make informed choices about family planning.

 

In addition, I am an active member of the Reproductive Health/Family Planning and Family Planning Advocacy  technical working groups in Ogun state. My interest and show of support for the state in achieving its CPR  led to being part of the team that developed the Ogun state Costed Implementation Plan for Familiy Planning.

If you are named a winner of 120 under 40, how will you use this new platform and the $1000 grant to advance your work? :

If I am named a winner, I will use the opportunity to outreaches and reach more  women in remote and hard to reach communities in terms of mobilization and offering free family planning services This is cost of services and affordability are major challenges of many women who live in low income communities and are in the lower of wealth.

Photos of the nominee in the field/at work

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