Nearly one million women and children in Kwara State are set to benefit from expanded healthcare services in 2025, as the government rolls out its Integrated Health Outreach Programme across every ward in the state.
The intervention, supported by development partners, will target 831,554 children under five, 166,309 infants under one year, and 207,885 pregnant women in the third and fourth quarters of the year.
Speaking at the official launch held at the Primary Health Centre in Tanke, Ilorin, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Nusirat Elelu, said the programme will deliver routine immunisation, tetanus vaccines for pregnant women and adolescent girls, as well as general health checks including blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index, and nutrition services.
She noted that referral systems had already been established for cases requiring higher-level medical attention, while a nomadic outreach strategy was being put in place to ensure services reached even the most remote settlements.
“The programme is targeted at achieving more than 80% coverage for the third dose of the pentavalent vaccine this year and to build sustained demand for antenatal services,” Elelu said.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Ayodeji Taoheed, said the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery through recruitment of health workers, upgrading of facilities, and ongoing policy reforms.
In their goodwill messages, representatives of the World Health Organisation, African Field Epidemiology Network, and the National Orientation Agency pledged continuous technical and financial support for the state’s health programmes.
By aiming for universal coverage across its 193 wards, Kwara State’s 2025 health plan not only seeks to save lives but also sets a model of how subnational governments in Nigeria can push forward on immunisation and maternal health goals.
If sustained, the effort could mark a turning point in the state’s drive toward healthier futures for women, children, and communities at large.
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