Laerdal Global Health commends Kwara’s commitment to safer maternal, newborn care

By Ahmed Olayinka

The Country Director of Laerdal Global Health, Dr. Obinna Orjingene, has commended the Kwara State Government for its sustained efforts to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes through evidence-based interventions and strategic partnerships.

Orjingene gave the commendation during a courtesy visit to the Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, where he acknowledged the state’s leadership in strengthening healthcare delivery and implementing initiatives aimed at reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

The visit also provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the Kwara State Ministry of Health, Laerdal Global Health and other development partners supporting the state’s health sector reforms through the European Union-funded Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (EU-SARAH) Project and the implementation of the Safer Birth Bundle of Care (SBBC).

As part of the engagement, Dr. Orjingene formally handed over project-supported tablets to the state to enhance digital data collection, monitoring, learning and continuous quality improvement under the programme.

Responding, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, appreciated Laerdal Global Health and other development partners for their continued support towards strengthening maternal and newborn healthcare services in the state.

She reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving the quality of care available to women and newborns while ensuring that healthcare workers are equipped with the necessary skills, tools and supportive environment to provide safe and respectful services.

El-Imam stressed that improving maternal and newborn health requires sustained collaboration, effective utilisation of data and continuous quality improvement at the facility level.

She assured that the state would continue to work closely with development partners to translate evidence-based interventions into measurable improvements in health outcomes.

The partnership under the Safer Birth Bundle of Care programme is expected to further strengthen safer birth practices, improve healthcare workers’ competencies and enhance the quality of maternal and newborn services across participating health facilities in Kwara State.

The collaboration underscores the importance of partnerships between government and development organisations in advancing efforts to safeguard the lives of mothers and newborns and build a stronger healthcare system in the state.