The Kwara Government has pledged commitment towards concerted efforts in crashing teenage pregnancies and improved health outcomes in the State.
The Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, stated this during a 2-day programme organised on Finalization of the 2026 Joint Annual Review (JAR) of the Health Sector, held in lorin.
She explained that the State Government has been running several programmes with other partners specifically to reduce teenage pregnancy and child marriage, including community sensitization.
According to her, Kwara has recorded significant successes in maternal health and family planning.
She credited the remarkable progress to the sustained health sector reforms and investments by the of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
“These reforms have focused on infrastructure development, primary healthcare revitalization, human resource strengthening, health insurance expansion, and aggressive disease control programs,” she said.
El-Imam described the JAR as a critical platform for accountability, performance assessment, learning, and strategic planning, adding that it provides an opportunity to review our progress, identify challenges, and agree on priority actions.
She noted that the institutionalization of the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) has significantly improved coordination, planning, and stakeholder collaboration.
Similarly, on maternal and newborn health, the commissioner stated that the government has prioritized capacity building for frontline workers and strengthened referral systems.
She highlighted the recent launch of the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (SEMSAS) and the Referral System for Maternal and Newborn Health (RESMAT) as major steps toward reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
El-Imam pointed to investments in the Children Specialist Hospital at Centre Igboro and the expansion of midwifery training institutions as key initiatives boosting specialized care and workforce capacity.
The Commissioner disclosed outstanding malaria case management, with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) treatment rates, ranging between 97 percent and 100 percent across Local Government Areas (LGAs).
She however observed that despite the gains, gaps have been identified in IPTp uptake, facility-based deliveries, and postnatal care utilization.
According to her, these areas align with the priorities of Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), Nigeria Primary Healthcare Provision Strengthening Programme (HOPE-PHC), and the state’s Annual Operational Plan, and will guide future interventions.
She called on participants at the JAR to provide evidence-based recommendations aimed at further reducing maternal and child mortality and accelerating progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, the SWAp State Coordinator, Dr. Ola Ahmed, explained that the annual review provides an opportunity to reflect on the past year.
“We look at what we have done well, identify areas where our performance was below expectations, and discuss the gaps and challenges that need to be addressed,” he said.
Ahmed added that the review compares current performance against previous targets to determine progress.
“The findings will guide planning for 2027 and enable the government to build on successes while addressing weaker areas to improve healthcare delivery and health outcomes across Kwara State.
“The finalization meeting marks the end of this year’s review process, implementation of the recommendations will continue across all levels of the health system,” he said.
In thier goodwill messages, the traditional rulers of Ajase-Ipo in Irepodun LGA of Kwara, Oba Ismail Alebiosu and Oba of Shao, Moro LGA, Dr Atolagbe Obalowu commended the State Government for the commitment towards the health of the citizenry.
They pledged pledged continued support to the health sector through proper orientation and routine engagements, especial on teenage pregnancy.