Kwara Trains 60 PHC Workers to Improve Emergency Maternal, Newborn Care

The Kwara State Government has commenced the training of 60 primary healthcare doctors, nurses and midwives in Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) as part of efforts to reduce maternal and newborn deaths across the state. The 10-day programme, organised by the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with UNICEF, brings together health workers from facilities in all 16 local government areas.

Speaking at the opening of the training in Ilorin, the Executive Secretary of the agency, Professor Nusirat Elelu, described the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening the skills of frontline healthcare workers. She urged participants to take full advantage of the programme and ensure that the knowledge gained translates into better healthcare outcomes for mothers and newborns across the state.

Elelu noted that maternal and newborn health remains a priority for the Kwara State Government and its development partners, stressing that significant investments have continued to be made in the sector. She also encouraged participants to share the skills acquired with colleagues in their respective health facilities to extend the programme's impact beyond the 60 beneficiaries.

The Director of Primary Health Care Systems, Dr Michael Oguntoye, said the training comes at a critical time as efforts intensify to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. He explained that experienced facilitators were carefully selected to provide practical instruction that would strengthen emergency obstetric and newborn care services at the primary healthcare level. Representatives of UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Population Fund also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the state's healthcare reforms.

The programme forms part of broader efforts to improve primary healthcare delivery in Kwara, with health authorities expressing confidence that better-trained frontline workers will help reduce avoidable referrals, improve access to quality care and enhance survival rates for mothers and newborns.