The Kwara State Government has introduced free Cesarean sections (C-sections) for pregnant women experiencing complications, available at five designated healthcare facilities across the state.

This announcement was made by the Commissioner for Health, Amina El-Imam, during a 14-day Residential State Training of Trainers on Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care held in Ilorin. The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the European Union Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (EU-SARAH) Programme.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) , a C-section is a surgical procedure where a baby is delivered through incisions in the mother's abdomen and uterus, rather than vaginally. It is performed in cases where it is necessary to safeguard the lives of both the mother and child.

Ms El-Imam stated that the participating healthcare facilities include the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) , Aisha Buhari Mother and Child Hospital Eiyenkonrin , General Hospital Offa , Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH) , and General Hospital Kiama.

�This is necessary to reduce the burden of maternal mortality in the state, while reiterating the resolve of the State government in ensuring no woman and unborn baby die during childbirth,� she said.

�These procedures are expensive, at least for the average person. It is a good thing to say that in densely populated Kwara Central, we have three facilities now that can provide these services.

�We have also made provisions for free ante-natal care for pregnant mothers across 193 the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) facilities.

�These healthcare facilities will provide the quality care requirements for pregnant mothers, adding that the state has abundance of contraceptive commodities for women who want to space their children.�

The commissioner commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for prioritising the health of the residents, especially the vulnerable groups including women and children.

She also commended the EU-SARAH programme, which targeted women and adolescent in ensuring safe sexual and reproductive health practices in Kwara.

In his opening address, Silas Ochele, the Lead Facilitator of the training, observed that maternal mortality remained high in Nigeria and other third world countries.

Mr Ochele, a professor however said advanced countries have timely intervention to save their women and children.

�Nigeria must ensure that signal function and intervention on safe mother and child healthcare is up-scaled,� he said.

�This training will increase the knowledge, skills and promote excellent attitude required in managing emergency obstetrics.�

Also, the Kwara EU-SARAH Programme Officer, Kafayat Kofoworola, said the programme is for 14-day training of medical workers in the field of obstetrics health care.

Ms Kofoworola added that the training was expected to improve the indices of maternal and newborn healthcare in the state.

(NAN)