The Kwara State Government has restated its commitment to widening access to reproductive and adolescent health services, framing it as central to improving healthcare delivery and reducing preventable maternal and child mortality.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam made the pledge at the inaugural National Steering Committee Meeting of the EU-SARAH initiative (European Union – Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health) held in Ilorin.
She credited the programme with making a measurable difference but voiced concern that many women, girls and children continue to face obstacles in accessing quality care. Reproductive and adolescent health, she said, remains a pressing public health priority that requires consistent action.
Citing recent advances in child health, El-Imam revealed that under-five mortality in Kwara dropped from 74 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 14 per 1,000 in 2023. She attributed the improvement to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s leadership and the state’s strong collaborations with global agencies such as UNICEF.
The commissioner warned that maternal and child deaths from preventable causes still present a formidable challenge and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the EU-SARAH programme to deliver better outcomes, especially for underserved communities.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Professor Ali Pate, represented by Dr John Ovuoraye, outlined the federal government’s four-part strategy: strengthening governance, improving health outcomes, reinforcing the healthcare system and bolstering national health security.
He described collaborative interventions, especially in Sokoto, Adamawa and Kwara, the so-called SAK states, as key to transforming the sector and thanked the European Union for its extensive support, praising UNICEF’s leadership in Nigeria’s health landscape.
UNICEF team lead Dr Fatimah Gohar underlined the agency’s dedication to the EU-SARAH initiative, pointing to its pivotal role in reaching underserved areas. Similarly, UNFPA head Abbigail Msemburi pledged the organisation’s ongoing support for sexual and reproductive health services across the country.
Officials from Sokoto and Adamawa described EU-SARAH as an essential tool in tackling entrenched maternal and infant mortality in their states and called for deeper cooperation to sustain progress.
Kwara State Children’s Parliament Speaker Hon Fauziya Alaaya made an appeal for greater youth participation in shaping health policy.
She described EU-SARAH as “a platform that champions dignity, fairness and a hopeful future for young people”, adding, “We are not just beneficiaries, we are partners. Our voices matter and should be heard.”
The two-day meeting gathered representatives of the European Union, UNICEF, UNFPA, the Federal Ministry of Health and the governments of Sokoto, Adamawa and Kwara, the primary beneficiaries of the EU-SARAH programme.
