Kwara introduces rural emergency care programme for expectant mothers
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The Kwara Government on Monday launched the Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport (RESMAT) programme in Moro Local Government Area to address critical gaps in emergency maternal and newborn care.
At the official launch, the Kwara 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, the commissioner described the RESMAT programme as a bold initiative to ensure the safety of mothers and their babies.
“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.
The commissioner described the initiative as a promise of timely, dignified, and lifesaving emergency response for residents of rural communities. She further appreciated 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 toward the success of the programme.
In his remarks, the Kwara Coordinator of RESMAT, Dr. Arigidi Stephen, explained that the programme was designed to eliminate the “three delays” that hindered timely care for pregnant women. He identified these delays as occurring at home, during transportation, and at health facilities.
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.
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