The Kwara State Government has flagged off a three-day Safer Birth Bundle of Care (SBBC) training programme for data collectors as it reiterated its unwavering commitment to ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
The training, which commenced on Thursday in Ilorin was organised by the Kwara State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (EU SARAH) Project and Laerdal Global Health.
Speaking at the opening ceremony,
Amina Ahmed El-Imam, commissioner for Health, described the programme as a critical step toward achieving the ministry’s overarching vision of safer childbirth across the state.
According to her, while the process of reform and improvement in healthcare delivery may not always be smooth, the goal remains clear, “Women should stop dying while giving life. The road may be rough, winding, or undulating, but as long as we are moving toward that destination, we are on the right path”.
The commissioner emphasised that the initiative is not about complexity, sentiment or opinions, but about measurable impact driven by credible data.
“It is not about what we think; it is about numbers. Evidence is what shows us where the problem lies and how we can solve it. What you have not commenced, you have not done. Today, we begin,” she affirmed.
El-Imam urged participants to embrace the training with open minds, describing continuous learning as a cornerstone of professional growth and improved healthcare outcomes.
“We must all consider ourselves lifelong students. No matter our level, there is always something new to learn—better, more efficient ways to do what we already know. Let us be opened to learning for the sake of the mothers and newborns we serve,” she appealed.
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Also speaking at the event, Obinna Orjingene, Country Director of Laerdal Global Health, expressed appreciation to the Kwara State Government for its leadership and commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes.
He commended the Ministry for mobilising health managers and stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
He noted that the Safer Birth Bundle of Care initiative goes beyond documentation, focusing on safeguarding not just mothers, but the Nigerian child.
Obinna stated that training would equip selected data collectors across the state with the knowledge and tools required to accurately capture and report maternal and newborn health data, a crucial component in strengthening service delivery and reducing preventable deaths.
In her remark, Hadiza Haliyu, the UNICEF representative observed that the training is essential to ensuring adequate records of health data in order to improve the outcomes in the State.
Hadiza who applauded the commitment of the State Government noted that its strategic partnerships and evidence-based interventions would continue to transform healthcare outcomes for mothers and newborns across the state.
