Kwara state Launched EU-SARAH Initiative

The Kwara Government launched the European Union (EU)- Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (SARAH) programme, on Thursday, in Ilorin.

Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, at the inauguration, explained that the EU-SARAH initiative would improve access to quality healthcare services, particularly for adolescents, women, and children in the state.

AbdulRazaq, represented by his deputy, Mr Kayode Alabi, said the initiative would also support efforts by the state government to strengthen the healthcare system, improve quality of care, and reduce healthcare inequalities.

According to him, the initiative represents a transformative approach to healthcare, specifically targeting the vital areas of sexual, reproductive, maternal, adolescent, and child health services.

“Reproductive and adolescent health is a cornerstone of public health which plays a crucial role in the overall well-being of our communities.

“Yet across Nigeria, many women and adolescents continue to face significant barriers to accessing essential reproductive health services.

“We know that these barriers lead to preventable maternal deaths and, and a cycle of ill health that impacts families and communities for generations.

“Kwara has made significant progress in improving maternal and child health, because we currently, have one of the lowest maternal mortality rates in the country.

“We have also made significant progress in reducing the under-five mortality rate. Despite these gains, our vision is to eliminate preventable maternal deaths and ensure that no child is lost to preventable diseases,” he said.

AbdulRazaq added that the initiative would also ensure that every woman, girl, and adolescent in Kwara had access to the reproductive health services they needed.

According to him, this project aligns perfectly with our administration’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of Kwarans, especially women, girls, and children.

“Kwara is one of the three benefiting states of this EU grant, together with Sokoto and Adamawa states.

“The state has at least one functional primary health facility in all the 193 wards in the state,” he said.

The governor disclosed that the initiative was supported by United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Federal Ministry of Health.

Earlier in her welcome address, Dr. Amina El-Imam, Kwara Commissioner for Health, commended the EU, UNFPA, and UNICEF, for their steadfast support and partnership with Kwara.

“This program will not only save lives but also empower our women and youths to make informed choices about their health and futures.

“Another critical component of this program is the capacity-building of our healthcare workers, who are the heart of our healthcare system.

“We are committed to providing them with the training and resources they need to deliver the best possible care, SARAH will help to facilitate this in the program’s focus areas,” she said.

In his remarks, the Health Specialist UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, Dr Idris Baba, said that the EU was providing the funding of SARAH for Kwara, Kogi, and Sokoto states to strengthen focus on adolescents health.

“This health intervention costs about $45 million, so this is a welcome development. We hope the government will show transparency and use it for the benefit of the people.

“We expect the capacity of the state to have been built both at the state and national level. They should have capacity to use data to build policy, and ensure service delivery,” he said.

Credit NAN: Text excluding Headings.