Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), in collaboration with UNICEF, has commenced a 10-day Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) training for 60 frontline health workers drawn from primary healthcare facilities across all 16 local government areas of the state. The training, which began on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Silver Gate Hotel in Ilorin, is expected to conclude on August 6, 2026. The programme is designed to strengthen the capacity of doctors, nurses, and midwives to provide quality emergency obstetric and newborn care, ultimately reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality across the state.
Declaring the training open, the Executive Secretary of KWSPHCDA, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, congratulated the participants on their selection and described the initiative as a valuable opportunity to enhance their clinical skills under the guidance of experienced resource persons. She urged the participants to commit themselves fully to every session, noting that maternal and newborn health remains a priority area that continues to attract significant investment from both the Kwara State Government and its development partners. Prof. Elelu stressed that the huge resources committed to the programme must be justified through improved quality of healthcare delivery. She added that the knowledge and practical skills acquired during the training should translate into better outcomes for mothers and newborns across the state. The Executive Secretary further charged the participants to step down the knowledge gained to other healthcare workers at their various facilities and local government areas, ensuring that the impact of the training extends beyond the 60 beneficiaries.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Director of Primary Health Care Systems, Dr. Michael Oguntoye, underscored the importance of the training, particularly at a time when concerted efforts are being intensified to drastically reduce maternal and neonatal deaths in the state. According to him, the facilitators were carefully selected based on their competence, experience and expertise, with the expectation that participants would receive high-quality, practical training capable of transforming emergency obstetric and newborn care at the primary healthcare level. He noted that the workshop aligns with ongoing efforts to significantly reduce maternal and child mortality in Kwara State.
Representatives of UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in their separate goodwill messages, reiterated the importance their respective organisations attach to improving maternal and newborn health. They encouraged participants to take full advantage of the training and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Kwara State Government in strengthening primary healthcare service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of the facilitators, the Lead Facilitator, Prof. Raji Laide of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), emphasised the importance of equipping frontline healthcare workers with the competencies required to effectively manage obstetric and newborn emergencies at the Primary Health Care level. She noted that strengthening the capacity of healthcare providers at Primary Health Care facilities, which are often the first point of contact for most patients, would reduce avoidable referrals to tertiary institutions, ease the burden on higher-level facilities and significantly improve maternal and child health outcomes. Prof. Raji assured participants of the commitment of all facilitators to delivering an intensive, practical and impactful training programme, while encouraging them to actively participate, ask questions and make the most of the 10-day learning opportunity.
The BEmONC training programme is a critical intervention aimed at equipping healthcare professionals with the knowledge and practical skills required to manage obstetric emergencies, ultimately reducing maternal and neonatal deaths and complications. By strengthening the capacity of frontline health workers at the primary healthcare level, the initiative is expected to improve emergency care delivery, reduce unnecessary referrals to tertiary hospitals, and contribute significantly to the state's efforts to achieve better health outcomes for mothers and newborns.
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