FG, Kwara Govt. partner on improving obstetrics care
By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Federal Government, under the Sector Wide Approach (SWAP), in collaboration with Kwara Government, has stepped up efforts to improve healthcare facilities across the 16 LGAs of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that SWAP is part of the Federal Government’s initiative at reducing maternal and neo-natal 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, Dr Amina El-Imam, the Kwara Commissioner for Health, stated that assessment was carried out across the secondary healthcare facilities in the 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
She explained that the evidence from the assessment will assist in decision making that would improve maternal and newborn health outcomes across Kwara.
El-Imam, represented by Dr Taoheed Abdullahi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, spoke at a One-Day Comprehensive, Emergency, Obstetrics and Newborn Care (CEmONC) Assessment Report Dissemination Agenda.
According to her, the findings will highlight both the strength and critical gaps in the state’s CEmONC services.
She commended the state government for upscaling healthcare delivery as demonstrated by several infrastructural upgrade across the state.
The commissioner listed the upgrade of primary and secondary health facilities to include the Civil Service Hospital and Adewole Cottage Hospital among others.
She observed that government had also engaged in mass recruitment of healthcare professionals to address the human resource gap in the state.
Also speaking, the representative of the National Coordinator of SWAP, Mr 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.
Olalekan said the refurbishment of these healthcare facilities is an integral component of the initiatives implemented to crash maternal mortality in Nigeria.
He explained that healthcare facilities that meet the accreditation criteria would be able to offer free Caesarean Section to pregnant women in need and be better positioned to manage emergencies referred within the LGAs.
In his remark, Dr 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 neo-nates.
“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.
Ahmed explained further that, earlier in 2024, assessments were carried out on the healthcare facilities located in each LGA.
He revealed that the state government began renovations based on the challenges that were recorded so as to improve the facilities.
According to him, the state government is required to take ownership of the initiative, while the Federal Government expresses readiness to support the state.
Dr Kofo Ibrahim, the CEmONC Focal Person in Kwara, said that the assessment of the secondary healthcare facilities in each LGA entailed availability of infrastructure, drugs, human resources and health and emergency referrals. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Yetunde Fatungase
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