The Kwara State Government has announced that recent indicators show the state currently has the lowest child mortality rate in Nigeria. This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Nusirat Elelu, during the First Quarterly Meeting of the Kwara State Task Force on Immunization and Primary Health Care, held Thursday in Ilorin.
Citing data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, Prof. Elelu stated that Kwara recorded only 2 child deaths per 1,000 live births—an unprecedented low compared to other states across the country.
“This data positions Kwara as having the lowest child mortality rate in Nigeria. It is a significant achievement that reflects the state’s commitment to improving maternal and child health,” she said.
Elelu also noted that Kwara leads the North Central region in the deployment of skilled birth attendants across its Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), a move that has directly contributed to saving the lives of mothers and newborns.
She highlighted key initiatives driving these outcomes, including the government’s provision of free delivery kits across all 16 local government areas, and the launch of a toll-free line to report any illegal demand for money at PHCs.
Progress has also been made in child immunization. Elelu stated that the state is achieving high coverage in routine immunization for children aged zero to five years. She emphasized that mop-up exercises are ongoing to ensure no child is left behind.
However, she raised concerns about the lack of support from some fathers, noting that many mothers report being prevented by their husbands from vaccinating their children.
Reacting to this, Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi expressed disappointment over the resistance from some male heads of households.
He pledged that the state government would engage local government authorities to sensitize and mobilize fathers to actively support life-saving immunization campaigns.
