The Kwara Government on Monday in Omuaran commenced a 10 days intensive training of 60 healthcare workers across the 16 Local Government Area of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the10 days intensive training is on Basic Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care.
In her welcoming address, Dr Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency explained that the programme is a buildup of several years of dedicated hard work.
According to her, the state government commitment to healthcare, deems it fit to increase the indices on quality of services.
“This year the quality of healthcare services is central. The government has committed a lot of resources in improving health infrastructures across the state.
“The next step is to increase and improve the healthcare services across the 16 local government area of the state,” she said.
Elelu stated that the government of AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara wants to transcend and give the minimum training to improve quality of healthcare to mothers and infants.
She added that the government had approved the improvement of quality, knowledge and skills to care for pregnant women who want to deliver thier babies.
The Executive secretary submitted that in 2020 about 94,276 women were recorded to attend for antenatal care across the Primary Health Care (PHCs) across the state.
She explained further that by 2023 there was significant increase of about 422, 631, 000 women who attend antenatal care, adding that this calls for commensurate services to cater for the rising number.
” Perception of healthcare workers is important and we are prepared to get participants of this training on board. And at the end of the 10 days intensive training, they will be certified,” she said.
Elelu therefore urge the participants to take the training with all sence of responsibility to handle the over 400,000 mothers who access antenatal care in the state.
She expressed hope and expectations that the training will improve healthcare services and greatly reduce maternal and newborn mortality.
Also in his address, Dr Micahel Oguntoye, the Director of Primary HealthCare Services stated that the training is a result of the hardwork from the Agency, which won several awards for exemplary and outstanding performances.
He added that the proceed from the award is what is translated in the training of health care workers in order to build their capacity.
Oguntoye noted that the Agency has engaged the services of some of the best facilitators in Africa.
The director lamented that Nigeria still carry high burden of maternal and neonatal deaths, many of which are unregistered.
He reiterated on the need to change the narrative, adding that this is possible when healthcare workers are available and with the necessary knowledge and know-how.
Prof. Adebayo Muhammad, the Lead Facilitator of the training, stated that the training will ensure that all participants improve thier knowledge on emergency obstetrics and newborn care.
He added that the training will also equip healthcare workers with skills on essential obstetrics and newborn care, among others.
Muhammad therefore urge the participants to utilise the knowledge acquired to achieve success in bringing down maternal and newborn mortality in the state.(NAN)