EU-SARAH Initiative lauded for major health milestones in Kwara
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Government has recorded significant milestones in the strengthening of Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent, and Young people’s health services through the EU-SARAH Initiative.
Speaking at the 4th Quarter State SARAH Initiative Governance and Coordination Committee Meeting in Ilorin, the state capital, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, noted that the EU-SARAH Initiative has continued to make tremendous impact across the state by improving the quality of maternal and child health services.
She added that the state’s vision to drastically improve maternal, child, and adolescent health outcomes, has positioned the state as the best place to give birth and the best place to be born.
Dr. El-Imam, who said several interventions had been successfully implemented across reproductive health, adolescent health, gender equality, and sexual and reproductive health awareness, added that such efforts had translated into increased service uptake and improved health outcomes for mothers, newborns, adolescents, and young people across the state.
Lauding the dedication and collaboration of the staff of the implementing Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs),
fhe Commissioner appreciated the unwavering support of the state government under the dynamic leadership of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, describing him as a health-driven and health-conscious Governor committed to quality healthcare delivery.
Dr. El-Imam further acknowledged the invaluable partnership of development partners UNICEF, UNFPA, and WHO, whose continuous collaboration has strengthened the EU-SARAH Initiative in the state.
Presenting the programme update, the Reproductive Health Coordinator, Dr. Kofo Ibrahim outlined key structural and implementation milestones,
explaining that the EU-SARAH governance structure includes; EU SARAH initiative Governance and Coordination Committee, RMNCAH TWG, MPCDSR TWG, Adolescent TWG both at the state and LGA.
She added that the EU-SARAH State Plan had also been fully integrated into the 2026 State Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), during the development of the State Annual Operational plan for 2026, an activity which was fully funded under the SARAH program
Dr. Ibrahin highlighted key achievements recorded, which include: Onboarding of 3,275 vulnerable persons into the Kwara State Health Insurance Scheme, capacity building of 746 Doctors and Nurse across all levels of care.
Other achievements according to her are; notification and review of Maternal, Perinatal and Child Death ( MPCDSR), provision of Adolescent Youth Friendly Health Services (AYFHS) and Delivery of targeted adolescent and youth outreaches across 8 LGAs.
She further explained that EU-SARAH also reached 4,601 adolescents and youths with services such as HIV testing, Family Planning information and services, and Antenatal care among others.
The State RMNCAH+N Coordinator at the Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Medinat Olaosebikan, highlighted the extensive training and quality-of-care interventions carried out to strengthen frontline health service delivery.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr. Taoheed Abdullahi, appreciated all stakeholders and partners for their participation, commitment, and shared vision of improved health outcomes for the people of Kwara State
