Kwara State has recorded significant progress in child survival, healthcare financing, and service delivery, according to findings presented at the conclusion of the Health System Exemplar Analysis Project in Ilorin.

The empirical findings were disclosed during a joint stakeholder engagement workshop organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Kwara State Ministry of Health, the Gates Foundation, and DGI Consult.

Delivering the keynote address, the Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, outlined the structural achievements recorded under the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Central to the report is a sharp decline in child mortality. Data from the 2023-2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) indicates that Kwara recorded an under-five mortality rate of 14 deaths per 1,000 live births, a significant drop from the 74 deaths per 1,000 live births recorded in the 2018 NDHS.

The drop places Kwara among the states with the lowest child mortality figures nationwide, supported by sustained investments in primary healthcare infrastructure, routine immunization, and maternal and child health services.

The state also recorded progress across child nutrition indicators. Figures from the 2025-2026 Nigeria Mini-Demographic and Health Survey (Mini-NDHS) reveal that stunting among children under five dropped to 35.5 percent from 40.8 percent in the 2024 NDHS. Wasting prevalence declined from 6.1 percent to 3.5 percent, while underweight prevalence fell from 24.5 percent to 14.8 percent over the same period.

These public health metrics correspond with expanded state healthcare financing. Kwara State increased its annual health budget allocation from roughly 4 percent in previous years to 15 percent in the 2026 fiscal budget, meeting the benchmark established under the Abuja Declaration.

The expanded budget has funded the mandatory enrollment of state civil servants into the Kwara State Health Insurance Scheme, improved healthcare worker welfare, and upgraded primary health facilities across all 16 local government areas.

Dr El-Imam stated that the achievements demonstrate the outcome of sustained political leadership, dedicated frontline health workers, and partnerships with development organizations like the Gates Foundation. She added that the ministry will continue to utilize verified data to guide policy decisions and ensure accessible, quality healthcare across the state.