The Kwara State Government has flagged off a three-day Safer Birth Bundle of Care (SBBC) training programme for data collectors, reiterating its commitment to ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

The training, which commenced on Thursday in Ilorin, was organised by the Kwara State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (EU SARAH) Project and Laerdal Global Health.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner for Health, Amina Ahmed El-Imam, described the programme as a critical step toward achieving safer childbirth across the state.

According to her, while healthcare reform may not always be seamless, the goal remains clear.

"Women should stop dying while giving life. The road may be rough, winding or undulating, but as long as we are moving toward that destination, we are on the right path," she said.

The commissioner emphasised that the initiative is driven by measurable impact anchored on credible data.

"It is not about what we think; it is about numbers. Evidence is what shows us where the problem lies and how we can solve it. What you have not commenced, you have not done. Today, we begin," she added.

El-Imam urged participants to approach the training with open minds, stressing that continuous learning remains vital to professional growth and improved healthcare delivery.

"We must all consider ourselves lifelong students. No matter our level, there is always something new to learn better, more efficient ways to do what we already know. Let us be open to learning for the sake of the mothers and newborns we serve," she appealed.

Also speaking, Obinna Orjingene, Country Director of Laerdal Global Health, commended the Kwara State Government for its leadership and commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes.

He noted that the Safer Birth Bundle of Care initiative goes beyond documentation, focusing on safeguarding mothers and children through improved data collection and service delivery.

Orjingene explained that the training would equip selected data collectors across the state with the skills required to accurately capture and report maternal and newborn health data, a crucial step in reducing preventable deaths.

In her remarks, Hadiza Haliyu, representative of UNICEF, observed that accurate health data is essential to improving outcomes. She applauded the state government’s commitment, noting that strategic partnerships and evidence-based interventions would continue to transform maternal and newborn healthcare delivery across Kwara.