• The Kwara State government has launched a standardised health counselling system across hospitals and communities
• The initiative was introduced in partnership with the Society for Family Health and aims to eliminate inconsistent healthcare messaging statewide
• Key focus areas include maternal health, immunisation, malaria prevention, breastfeeding, hygiene, and sanitation

The Kwara State Government has unveiled a standardised health counselling system designed to ensure residents receive consistent and accurate healthcare information across hospitals, communities, and outreach programmes.

The initiative, introduced in partnership with the Society for Family Health, involves the deployment of an Integrated Health Facility Flip Chart for frontline health workers, State Mobilisation Officers, and community volunteers throughout the state.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday, May 7, by the Press Secretary of the Kwara State Ministry of Health, Saad Hamdalat.

Speaking during the launch, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, said the programme would tackle inconsistencies in health communication, improve public understanding of healthcare services, and strengthen behavioural change campaigns at the grassroots level.

Represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Fakoyode Oluwatosin, the commissioner explained that the state was committed to adopting a unified approach to health education to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes.

She said, “Health promotion remains the backbone of effective public health interventions. Without it, we cannot achieve meaningful or sustained impact.

“This tool will help drive behaviour change and improve how communities engage with health services.”

El-Imam noted that the flip chart would function as a structured visual guide to help health workers provide clear and uniform counselling messages during antenatal clinics, immunisation campaigns, community outreach activities, and household visits.

According to her, the initiative is expected to boost public awareness and increase the uptake of healthcare services in areas such as maternal and child health, routine immunisation, skilled birth attendance, malaria prevention, exclusive breastfeeding, hygiene, sanitation, and diarrhoea management.

She added that State Mobilisation Officers across the 16 local government areas would oversee the implementation of the tool within communities.

Also speaking, the Reproductive Health Coordinator at the Kwara State Ministry of Health, Dr. Kafayat Kofo, described the flip chart as a tool that harmonises communication across reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent healthcare services, including selected non-communicable diseases.

“This is more than a communication tool. It is a standardised behavioural change resource that ensures communities receive the right information in a clear and relatable way,” she said.

Kofo added that the initiative would eliminate conflicting health messages and improve the quality of counselling delivered by frontline health workers across the state.

In his remarks, the MIS Adviser for Society for Family Health, Mr. Adetayo Adedotun, said the project aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen communication within the primary healthcare system and improve programme outcomes.

“This initiative supports the delivery of consistent, high-quality health education and aligns with efforts to improve service uptake and overall programme performance.

“It also provides a unified approach to counselling across facilities and communities,” he said.

The Kwara State Government expressed confidence that the initiative would deepen community engagement, strengthen public trust in healthcare messaging, and improve healthcare delivery across the state.

DSVA launches first online pre-marital counselling to help pastors, imams prevent domestic violence

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Lagos State Government had unveiled a Religious Pre-Marital Counselling Online Course designed for pastors, imams, and faith-based marriage counsellors.

The initiative aims to equip participants with practical tools to guide couples toward healthier, violence-free marriages.

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) described the programme as part of the state’s ongoing commitment to preventing domestic violence by strengthening family foundations even before marriage.