The Kwara State Government has launched the Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport (RESMAT) programme in Moro Local Government Area (LGA), aimed at closing critical gaps in emergency maternal and newborn care.

At the official launch, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, reaffirmed the government's commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Represented by the Director of Medical Services and Training, Dr. Musilihu Odunaiya, she described RESMAT as a bold step towards ensuring the safety of mothers and their newborns.

"No mother should lose her life seeking care and no family should watch a loved one suffer for lack of transport to a hospital," she said.

She described the initiative as a promise of timely, dignified, and lifesaving emergency response for rural communities.

The Commissioner expressed appreciation to the Executive Chairman of Moro LGA, council members, health workers, the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leadership, and community members for their support in making the programme a reality.

In his remarks, the Kwara Coordinator of RESMAT, Dr. Arigidi Stephen, explained that the programme is designed to eliminate the "three delays" that hinder timely access to care for pregnant women delays in decision-making at home, delays in reaching a health facility, and delays in receiving adequate treatment upon arrival.

Arigidi listed health centers equipped with Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEMONC) services to include; Primary Healthcare Centre Arobadi, Model Primary Healthcare Centre, Jebba and Primary Healthcare Centre Megida.

He listed others to include Comprehensive Healthcare Centre Ejidongari, Basic Healthcare Centre Bode-Saadu, and Comprehensive Health Centre Malete.

He added that the RESMAT initiative was supported by the Federal Government and urged pregnant women to always attend antenatal care at government facilities.

The coordinator stressed that maternal and newborn care under the programme was free, adding that after delivery, mothers would be enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme at no cost.

In her goodwill message, the Supervisory Councillor of Moro LGA, Hajia Hamdalat Lawal, commended Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for introducing the life saving programme.

She urged pregnant women to avoid traditional birth attendants, but instead take advantage of free antenatal care in government hospitals, where they would also receive mama-kits at delivery. (NAN)