Kwara Reiterates Commitment To Evidence-Based Intervention

By -
The Kwara State Government has reiterated its commitment to supporting evidence-based interventions that advance Universal Health Coverage and reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, made this known at a State-Level Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) Costed Implementation Plan Development Workshop held in Agawood Hotel, pipeline ROAD, Ilorin

According to her, the state has continued to record significant progress in maternal and child health through investments in primary healthcare, immunization, maternal health services, health insurance coverage, and health system strengthening. 

The Commissioner who spoke through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Taoheed Abdullahi, explained that thousands of pregnant women continue to access skilled birth attendance services across health facilities, while the Kwara State Health Insurance Scheme has expanded access to essential maternal and child healthcare services.

The  Commissioner also emphasized that despite these achievements, challenges relating to maternal nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies persist, making the introduction and scale-up of MMS both timely and necessary.

She, however, said the workshop aligns with the National Roadmap for Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (2025–2029), which seeks to ensure equitable access to MMS for every pregnant woman as part of routine antenatal care services.

Dr.El-Imam noted that MMS has proven to reduce maternal anaemia, low birth weight, preterm births, and other poor pregnancy outcomes. 

In her welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, represented by the State Nutrition Officer, Dr. Bankole Olugbenga, described the workshop as a critical step towards securing better health outcomes for mothers and children in the state.

She highlighted ongoing efforts by the agency, including the integration of MMS into antenatal care services, free distribution of Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) and MMS during Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Weeks among others.

Prof. Elelu disclosed that over 14,423 MMS were distributed during the recent MNCH Week, while a total of 172,762 bottles of MMS had been supplied to Kwara State between 2021 and 2026.

She explained that the four-day workshop is designed to develop a state-specific, costed implementation plan aligned with the National MMS Roadmap, ensuring adequate resources, proper budgeting, and effective implementation across the state.

The SWAp Desk Officer, Dr. Ola Ahmed, stated the objectives of the workshop is that participants would review the National MMS Roadmap (2025–2029) and its implementation framework.

Other goals according to him, is the adapting of the national policy and framework for implementation in Kwara State, assessing the state's readiness for MMS rollout and scale-up within antenatal care services, and develop a realistic state-specific implementation plan and budget among others 

In her Goodwill message, the Technical Specialist, Vitamin Angels, Dr. Gloria Ode noted that Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) was first introduced in Kwara State by Vitamin Angels as a cost-effective intervention aimed at improving the health of pregnant women. 

She stated that the programme has proven beneficial in reducing maternal mortality, anaemia, and low birth weight among newborns. 

Dr. Ode commended the Kwara State Government for its unwavering commitment and support towards the successful implementation of the programme and expressed confidence that the continued scale-up of MMS would further improve maternal and child health outcomes across the state.

The workshop is expected to produce a practical and sustainable implementation plan that will guide the scale-up of Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation services and contribute to improved maternal and newborn health outcomes across Kwara State

Saad Hamdalat
Press Sec MOH 
081665205137

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kwara declares Tuesday Hijra Holiday, wishes Muslims blessed 1448 AH

By -
Image
Kwara State Government has declared Tuesday June 16 a public holiday in the state in commemoration of the 1448 New Hijra Year. Tuesday has been declared as the first day of Muharram (1448), the first Islamic lunar month.  In a statement on Monday, the state government urges Muslims to reflect on the significance of the month for not just the Muslim community but for the entire human community.  "Hijrah (the migration of the Holy Prophet Muhammad) reminds the world of the evergreen value of tolerance, common humanity, and the right of every person to their legitimate aspirations -- either in matters of faith or mundane matters as long as they do not hurt others," according to the statement. "As we commemorate the new Hijrah Year, His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON, prays that God bless every home, restore peace to our land, and give us the strength to do right by every person." Bolanle Olukoju  Commissioner for Communications  Kwara State...
Read more

Ministry of Social Development, KW-IRS Conduct Monitoring, Evaluation and Enforcement on Creche Registration Compliance

By -
Image
The Kwara State Ministry of Social Development, in collaboration with the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), has conducted a two-day Monitoring, Evaluation and Enforcement Exercise on Crèche Registration Compliance across the Ilorin metropolis. The exercise, which took place from June 23 to 24, 2026, was aimed at ensuring compliance with crèche registration requirements among schools and childcare centres providing services for children between the ages of 0 and 6 years. Speaking on the exercise, the Honourable Commissioner for Social Development, Hajia Mariam Nnafatima Imam, PhD, stated that all operators of crèche facilities are required to register with the Ministry and renew their registration annually in accordance with the regulations. Hajia Imam noted that crèches operating without valid registration are not recognised by the Kwara State Government and are therefore unauthorised to operate.  She added that such facilities would be liable t...
Read more

KWARANS ASSURED OF GOVT'S COMMITMENTS TO DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

By -
Image
Government has assured Kwarans of it's commitments to develop strategies aimed at ensuring the learning accessibility to every child, across the state. The Kwara State First Lady and Chairperson, Nigerian Governors' Spouses, Ambassador (Prof) Olufolake AbdulRazaq stated this in Ilorin today, at the handing over of Educational scholastic items, to over 700 (seven hundred) beneficiaries, which cut across 14 public schools in Ilorin south local Government Area of the State, at Government  Secondary school Tanke.   Professor Olufolake, who was represented at the occasion by the state Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Dr Afeez Abolore Alabi handed over to the schools include school bags, exercise books, mathematical sets and pair of new school uniforms. She noted that despite the impactful progress made in the education sector, emphersised the need to improve on supports for girl child education, children, ramp to students with disabilities for ease of m...
Read more

IVTEC-KWSG Empowers Youths Under the 2024/2025 Employment Generation Scheme

By -
Image
The Kwara State Government, in collaboration with International Vocational Technical and Entrepreneurship College, (IVTEC), Ajase Ipo, has  commenced batch 8 of the year 2024/2025 admission of Youths Empowerment and Employment Generation Scheme.  The Rector of the College, Engr. (Dr.) Yaru Salihu stated this in Ajase Ipo today in a press statement issued from his office. According to the Rector, the programme which is being sponsored by the Kwara State Government is aimed at promoting a viable and skills acquisition training, to increase the effectiveness of government efforts at combating poverty and youth unemployment. The programme also intends to create jobs in order to increase entrepreneurship opportunities among the teeming youths in the state. The statement, which was signed by the Press Secretary of the Institute, Grace Ige, stated that areas of training of the scheme include Trades and Vocations; Automotive, Building and Electrical Departments. Others are...
Read more