A United Kingdom (UK)-registered international organisation, Jose Foundation in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Kwara State has distributed about 1,600 delivery kits to the state government.

This was disclosed in a press release signed by the president, Jose Foundation UK, Dr Martins Abhulimhen yesterday, saying the intervention was a strategic intervention to reduce maternal mortality in the country.

The distribution ceremony which took place at the Government House, Ilorin, in the Kwara State capital was part of the partnership between Jose Foundation UK and the First Lady of Kwara State, Prof Olufolake Abdulrazaq.

Some of the delivery kits distributed included: Antiseptic soap, disinfectant, plastic padded sheet, sterile cord clamp, sterile gloves, sanitary pads, and sterile cotton wool.

At the event, president of Jose Foundation, Dr Martins Abhulimhen, represented by Dr Eyitayo Adunmo, said the intervention became necessary as the maternal mortality rate in Nigeria is high on global ranking.

Abhulimhen stated the key risk points which contribute to the deficiencies at the delivery phase.

“It is estimated that 70 percent of deliveries happen under substandard conditions. A key challenge is the unavailability of delivery kits deployed at the point of delivery.“It's critical therefore that a programme that addresses this apparently small but important link to health for women of child bearing age be promoted and enhanced.

“Jose Foundation has developed an intervention that will promote the widespread production and distribution of these materials in order to mitigate the scourge,” he said.

Abhulimhen added that the Jose Foundation in over two decades have been in the business of making people-centered borderless community impact across the globe.In her remarks, the First Lady of Kwara State and founder, Ajike People Support Center, Prof Olufolake Abdulrazaq, said access to clean and hygienic delivery materials is a fundamental right that every expectant mother deserves.

The first lady, represented by the state commissioner for health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, enumerated various impactful health interventions through Ajike People Support Center, explaining that the delivery kits would contribute positively in reducing the rate of maternal-mortality and infants death, as well as ensuring healthy mother and child.

Prof Abdulrazaq, who is also the chairperson of the Nigeria Governors Spouses Forum, harped on the need to lower maternal-mortality and infants death rates, particularly as about one in five maternal-mortality deaths are caused by lack of proper hygiene, enjoining the beneficiaries to utilize the items judiciously.

In her remarks, the executive secretary of the State Primary HealthCare Development Agency, Dr Nusirat Elelu, acknowledged the support of Jose foundation to the state, saying that the initiative would serve as a crucial step towards improving maternal and infant health, especially now that delivery in public health facilities doubled in the last four years due to improved health system.

Also, the secretary to the state government, Prof Jibril Saba-Mamman, thanked the foundation for partnering with the state towards achieving sustainable healthcare delivery and called for judicious use of the items.In her contribution, the commissioner for social development, Mrs Afolashade Opeyemi Oluwakemi, applauded the first lady for supporting the state government, especially in the health sector, calling on other non-governmental organisations to emulate the gesture.