The Kwara state government and the World Health Organisation in Nigeria are set to work together towards reducing child and maternal mortality rate.

This consensus was reached at a recent meeting between Her Excellency, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, the First Lady of Kwara state and the Representative of the World Health Organisation in Nigeria, Dr. David Okello at the United Nations House, Abuja.

Speaking at the meeting, the First Lady said that improving the health of all citizens especially child and maternal health is a major focus of the present Kwara state administration. She said the Kwara state government is working out strategies to ensure reliable and cost-effective child and maternal health systems. “Consequently, the government has commenced a base-line study to profile a model hospital, available staff and their levels of professionalism in order to determine what resources are available and what gaps exist”, said Mrs. Omolewa.

This, according to the first lady, is being piloted in a designated hospital and all mothers who attend ante-natal care in such hospitals will receive free delivery kit in addition to free ante-natal and malaria treatment.

She explained that in the spirit of continuity of governance, the present administration of Kwara state has sustained the programme of free ante-natal care and malaria treatment for pregnant mothers.

In his response, the WHO Country Representative, Dr. David Okello said that WHO as a technical agency is ready to collaborate with Kwara state government to ensure safer motherhood and avoid unnecessary newborn deaths. “When a mother dies, it is colossal loss to the family and the nation”, he said.

Dr. Okello reaffirmed that mother-to-child-transmission of HIV is preventable and in fact can be eliminated given the abundant human and technical resources available in Nigeria. He added that it is imperative to put in place and implement favourable laws and regulations to impact positively on the lives of women and children.

He explained that WHO Nigeria will continue to provide technical support to the Kwara state government and people in the planning, implementation and evaluation of high impact interventions like Focused Antenatal Care, Intra-partum care, Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care, Routine Postnatal Care, PMTCT, Routine immunization and Prevention of Malaria particularly in pregnant women.