Health
THE Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA) has trained 88 health workers on the use of the electronic Maternal, Perinatal and Child Death Surveillance and Response (e-MPCDSR) platform.
The training, held in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in Ilorin on Thursday, focused on strengthening participants’ capacity in MPCDSR with emphasis on its electronic component.
Speaking at the opening session, the Executive Secretary of the agency, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, described the programme as a critical step toward building a resilient healthcare system and reducing maternal and perinatal mortality in the state.
Elelu said that the training would equip participants with skills in accurate identification, notification, review and timely response to maternal and child deaths, in line with national and international standards for reducing preventable mortality.
Represented by the Director of Personnel, Finance and Supply, Mr Ajide Olayioye, the executive secretary said maternal and child health remained a priority of the state government.
“This training complements the significant investments of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in primary healthcare infrastructure, workforce development and service delivery,” she said.
Elelu urged participants to maximise the opportunity, noting that lessons from maternal and child deaths were vital to improving healthcare delivery.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Dr Mary Arinde, said the programme was designed for selected health workers from facilities supported by the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and local government area teams.
Arinde, represented by the Director of Planning and Environmental Services, Malam Abu Ibrahim, said that the objective was to strengthen the capacity of health workers to capture, analyse and respond to maternal and perinatal deaths in real time.
In a goodwill message, the Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialist, UNFPA Nigeria, Dr Gloria Enueze, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting governments at all levels through evidence-based interventions.
“The MPCDSR system is a critical strategy for identifying causes and contributing factors to maternal and perinatal deaths, generating actionable recommendations, and ensuring that no death goes unreviewed and no lesson goes unlearned,” she said.
Enueze said the introduction of the electronic MPCDSR platform marked a significant milestone in efforts to improve the quality, timeliness and utilisation of data for decision-making.
“By digitising the MPCDSR process, we can enhance data accuracy, facilitate real-time reporting, strengthen accountability and accelerate the implementation of life-saving actions across health facilities and communities,” she said.
According to her, the cascading training is designed to equip frontline health workers and managers with the knowledge and skills required to strengthen surveillance systems and improve response mechanisms.
She expressed confidence that participants would become champions of the e-MPCDSR system in their respective institutions and drive its effective implementation at state and facility levels.
Enueze commended the State Ministry of Health, the State Primary Health Care Development Agency and other stakeholders for their commitment to improving maternal and newborn health outcomes.
Earlier, Dr Medinat Olaosebikan, the State MPCDSR Desk Officer and Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) Coordinator, said that the training was aimed at enhancing data quality, improving coordination across health facilities at local government areas, and ensuring prompt responses to identified causes of death.
(NAN)
W.U
June 18, 2026
Tags: Dr Gloria Enueze Dr Mary Arinde Dr Medinat Olaosebikan Mr Ajide Olayioye Prof. Nusirat Elelu