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By Muinat Usman
The Kwara State Government has launched a healthcare programme tagged European Union Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health, E.U SARAH, in Ilorin.
The programme is aimed at improving healthcare services for adolescent and curb incidences of maternal and child mortality in the State.
The programme which is at the instance of the State Ministry of Health, is funded by United Nations Children Education Trust Fund UNICEF, United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA.
In an address at the occasion, the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq explained that the EU-SARAH programme, is a transformative approach to healthcare with focus on sexual, reproductive, maternal, adolescent, and child healthcare services.
Governor Abdulrazaq who was represented by Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, said, aside Kwara State, Sokoto and Adamawa States are also beneficiaries of the EU grant.
He affirmed that Kwara has one of the lowest record of maternal mortality rate in the country and that the programme would further transform reproductive and maternal health in the State.
Earlier, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, commended the European Union, UNFPA, and UNICEF, for their continued support and partnership.
Dr El-Imam stated that access to comprehensive and integrated health services is a fundamental human right.
“The objectives of SARAH are clear and quite ambitious. It intends to strengthen our healthcare systems and I, make bold to say that probably this is one of the easier parts because our healthcare system has been on a path of increased strengthening in the past five years.
So, the strengthening of our systems and structure is a welcomed contribution.”
She pointed out that the EU-SARAH programme would break barriers, by improving access to reproductive and maternal health services.
In a remark, the Health Specialist,
UNICEF, Kaduna Field Office, Dr Idris Baba, stated that the EU funded health intervention programme in three States, costs about forty -five million dollars.
Dr Baba appealed to the partnering States to deliver on the objectives of the programme and ensure transparency and accountability.
“The capacity of stakeholders have been built, both at the State and National level, to ensure that they have the capacity to use data to inform policies; to ensure that service delivery is strengthened; and create access to both services.”
Highpoint of the event was the inauguration of a fifteen man committee to oversee the EU SARAH programme.
The committee is chaired by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, while the State Director of Public Health, Dr Oluwatosin Fakayode, will serve as Secretary.
