The federal government, under the Sector Wide Approach (SWAP), in collaboration with the Kwara government, have stepped up efforts to improve healthcare facilities across the 16 LGAs of the state.

SWAP is part of the federal government’s initiative to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality across Nigeria. The initiative is also in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Programme for International Education in Gynaecology and Obstetrics (Jhpiego).

In her address, Amina El-Imam, the Kwara Commissioner for Health, said the assessment was carried out across the secondary healthcare facilities in the 16 LGAs of the state.

She explained that the evidence from the assessment would assist in decision-making to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes across Kwara.

Ms El-Imam, represented by Taoheed Abdullahi, the ministry’s permanent secretary, spoke at a One-Day Comprehensive, Emergency, Obstetrics and Newborn Care (CEmONC) Assessment Report Dissemination Agenda.

She said the findings will highlight the strengths and critical gaps in the state’s CEmONC services.

Ms El-Imam commended the state government for upscaling healthcare delivery, as demonstrated by several infrastructural upgrades across the state.

The commissioner listed the upgrade of primary and secondary health facilities as the Civil Service Hospital and Adewole Cottage Hospital, among others.

She observed that the government had also massively recruited healthcare professionals to address the human resource gap in the state.

The representative of the national coordinator of SWAP, Salami Olalekan, explained that the programme is a collaboration between the federal government, state governors and development partners.

He explained that every LGA must have at least one functional secondary healthcare facility to help bridge the gap in the provision of emergency health services.

Mr Olalekan said the refurbishment of these healthcare facilities is an integral component of the initiatives implemented to reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria.

He said healthcare facilities that meet the accreditation criteria could offer free caesarian sections to pregnant women in need and be better positioned to manage emergencies referred to within the LGAs.

In his remark, Ola Ahmed, the SWAP desk officer in Kwara, noted that at least one healthcare facility in each local government is identified to provide care for mothers and neonates.

“This is to ensure that during delivery, the mother and the baby are well taken care of. We don’t want maternal and child complications that will result in death,” he said.

Kofo Ibrahim, the CEmONC focal person in Kwara, said the assessment of the secondary healthcare facilities in each LGA entailed the availability of infrastructure, drugs, human resources and health and emergency referrals.

(NAN)