Kwara Govt Launches RESMAT to Boost Maternal and Newborn Care in Rural Areas
The Kwara State Government has launched the Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport (RESMAT) program in Moro Local Government Area, Bode Saadu, to improve access to emergency maternal and newborn care in rural communities.
The program was officially flagged off at the Primary Health Care Centre, Bode Saadu, by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, who was represented by the Director of Medical Services and Training, Dr. Musilihu Odunaiya. The initiative is part of the government’s commitment to achieving universal health coverage and reducing maternal and infant mortality.
The RESMAT program is designed to address delays that often hinder timely healthcare for pregnant women, particularly at home, during transportation, and at health facilities. It also ensures that maternal and newborn care services are free, while mothers are automatically enrolled in the National Health Insurance Authority after delivery. Designated facilities under the scheme include PHC Arobadi, Model PHC Jebba, PHC Megida, CHC Ejidongari, BHC Bode-Saadu, and CHC Malete.
Government officials emphasized that the scheme would provide timely, dignified, and lifesaving emergency response services, while also strengthening comprehensive obstetric and newborn care in rural communities. The program enjoys the support of the federal government and local stakeholders, including the leadership of Moro LGA, health workers, the NURTW, and community members.
The initiative has been widely commended as the first of its kind in Kwara State. Local government representatives expressed gratitude to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the Ministry of Health for their efforts, noting that the program would make healthcare more accessible to rural dwellers and eliminate barriers such as distance and lack of transportation.
The RESMAT program is expected to significantly reduce maternal and newborn deaths in rural areas and further strengthen the state’s health system.
