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By Muinat Usman
Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing maternal and neonatal mortality through a strengthened partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as part of ongoing efforts to improve healthcare outcomes for mothers and newborns across the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, made this known during the official handover of Safer Birth Bundle of Care equipment and supplies to beneficiary health facilities in Ilorin.
The intervention is being implemented under the European Union-funded Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (SARAH) programme.
Dr. El-Imam described the initiative as a demonstration of the state government’s resolve, in collaboration with UNICEF and the European Union, to enhance the quality of maternal and newborn healthcare services.
She stressed that every mother and child deserves access to safe, quality healthcare, adding that the administration would continue to invest in the health sector to prevent avoidable deaths during pregnancy and childbirth.
She urged healthcare workers to make judicious use of the newly supplied equipment, noting that the tools would not only improve service delivery but also strengthen the capacity of health personnel through practical training on safe delivery practices.
Expressing optimism about the state’s progress, the commissioner said Kwara could achieve substantial reductions in maternal and neonatal mortality by sustaining investments in quality healthcare and adopting proven best practices from countries that have made significant advances in maternal and child health.
UNICEF’s representative in Kwara State, Dr. Danlami Uthman, described the donation as a major milestone in the collective effort to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths.
He commended the Kwara State Government for its commitment to implementing programmes that improve the health and well-being of residents.
Also speaking, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Oluwatosin Fakayode, said the equipment would enhance the quality of healthcare delivery and strengthen the capacity of frontline health workers to provide effective maternal and newborn care.
Similarly, the State Reproductive Health Coordinator, Dr. Kafayat Kofo, lauded the Kwara State Government, the European Union and UNICEF for the intervention, describing it as a strategic investment in safeguarding the lives of mothers and newborns.
The donated items include Moyo foetal heart rate monitors, NeoNatalie simulators, MamaNatalie training kits, MamaBirthie simulators, flip charts, medication tables and other life-saving equipment designed to improve maternal and newborn healthcare services across beneficiary facilities.
Editing: Abdullah Ahmed
