The Kwara State Government has received a significant boost in its efforts to reduce maternal and newborn deaths following the donation of advanced Safer Birth Bundle of Care (SBCC) equipment by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) under the European Union Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (EU-SARAH) programme.

The life-saving equipment was formally handed over to beneficiary health facilities in Ilorin and is expected to strengthen emergency obstetric and newborn care, improve the skills of frontline health workers and enhance the quality of maternal and child healthcare services across the state.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, described the intervention as another milestone in the state's partnership with UNICEF and the European Union to safeguard the lives of mothers and newborns.

She reaffirmed the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq administration's commitment to ending preventable maternal and neonatal deaths, stressing that every mother deserves a safe delivery and every newborn deserves a healthy start in life.

Dr El-Imam urged healthcare workers in the beneficiary facilities to use the equipment responsibly and effectively, noting that it would strengthen practical training, improve emergency response during childbirth and ultimately save more lives.

She also commended UNICEF and the European Union for their continued support, describing the donation as a valuable investment in improving maternal and newborn health outcomes in Kwara State.

Speaking on behalf of UNICEF in Kwara State, Dr Danlami Uthman said the donation reflects the partners' shared commitment to reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.

He praised the Kwara State Government for prioritising quality healthcare and sustaining programmes aimed at improving the wellbeing of women and children.

Earlier, the Director of Public Health, Dr Oluwatosin Fakayode, said the equipment would enhance the capacity of healthcare workers through simulation-based training, leading to improved quality of care and better survival outcomes for mothers and newborns.

Also speaking, the State Reproductive Health Coordinator, Dr Kafayat Kofo, described the intervention as a strategic investment in maternal and child healthcare, while appreciating the Kwara State Government, UNICEF and the European Union for their continued commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.

The donated equipment includes Moyo foetal heart rate monitors, NeoNatalie simulators, MamaNatalie simulators, MamaBirthie models, flip charts, medication tables and other essential training tools designed to improve safe delivery practices in health facilities across Kwara State.