The Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the health of pregnant women and children through continuous training of healthcare workers on malaria in pregnancy.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, spoke on Thursday in Ilorin during a two-day training programme organized for doctors, nurses, and community health extension workers.
Represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Oluwatosin Fakayode, the commissioner stressed the importance of proper record-keeping, noting that “what is not documented is as good as unknown.”
She explained that accurate records help the government plan better and improve health services. “The government remains committed to ensuring that pregnant women have free access to malaria prevention and treatment services,” she added.
El-Imam urged healthcare workers to actively participate in the training and identify challenges in their workplaces to find solutions and improve service delivery. She also commended facilitators and partners for their efforts in strengthening healthcare in the state.
Dr. Hamdalat Issa, Consultant Pediatrician at the Children Specialist Hospital, Ilorin, described the training as timely, noting that practical and participatory teaching methods were used to improve understanding, particularly in record-keeping and data use for decision-making. She added that the training would enhance how health workers document, report, and use information to guide their actions.
Dr. Oladapo Kazeem, Head of Malaria Case Management in the state, emphasized the need for health workers to strictly follow approved guidelines in managing malaria cases. He highlighted the importance of testing before treatment, prompt diagnosis, and proper case management, especially among pregnant women.
Oladapo stressed that consistent adherence to best practices would improve outcomes for mothers and their babies. He also noted that the training was expected to strengthen the capacity of health workers across the state and improve the quality of care provided to pregnant women.
