The Country Director of Laerdal Global Health, Dr Obinna Orjingene, has commended the Kwara State Government for its sustained commitment to improving maternal and newborn health outcomes through evidence-based interventions and strategic partnerships.

Orjingene gave the commendation during a courtesy visit to the Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, where he acknowledged the state's efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

The visit further strengthened the partnership between the Kwara State Ministry of Health, Laerdal Global Health and other development partners supporting health sector reforms through the European Union-funded Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (EU-SARAH) Project and the implementation of the Safer Birth Bundle of Care (SBBC).

As part of the engagement, Orjingene formally handed over project-supported tablets to the state to enhance digital data collection, monitoring, learning and continuous quality improvement under the programme.

Responding, El-Imam appreciated Laerdal Global Health and other development partners for their continued support towards strengthening maternal and newborn healthcare in the state.

She reaffirmed the state government's commitment to improving the quality of care available to women and newborns while ensuring that healthcare workers have the necessary skills, tools and supportive environment to provide safe and respectful services.

The commissioner noted that improving maternal and newborn health requires sustained collaboration, effective use of data and continuous quality improvement at the facility level.

She added that the state would continue to work with development partners to translate evidence into measurable health outcomes.

The partnership under the SBBC, she said, provides an opportunity for Kwara to further institutionalise safer birth practices, strengthen the competencies of healthcare workers and improve the quality of services provided across participating health facilities.