By Prosper Mene
In a push to combat one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health challenges, the Enugu State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating maternal and newborn mortality through targeted policies, infrastructure upgrades, and community-focused interventions.
Prof. Emmanuel Obi, the state’s Commissioner for Health, highlighted these efforts during the commemoration of the 2025 Safe Motherhood Day, themed โInnovating for Safer Birth; A Collective Responsibility to Crash Maternal Mortality.โ The event, held to align with the state’s broader health programs, underscores a multi-pronged strategy addressing preventable causes such as hemorrhage, severe anemia, sepsis, preeclampsia, obstructed labor, and unsafe abortions.
The state’s ambitious rollout includes the construction and equipping of 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across all 260 wards, ensuring round-the-clock access to quality maternal care, including staff quarters and renewable energy sources for reliability.
These facilities are part of Governor Peter Mbah’s administration’s response to inherited high maternal mortality rates exceeding the national average of 512 deaths per 100,000 live births. Early results are promising: In 2024, Enugu achieved a dramatic over 400% reduction in maternal mortality, a testament to the efficacy of these interventions, though officials emphasize that more work is needed to reach zero tolerance.
Complementing government efforts, First Lady Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah launched the “Mama Care Initiative” through her pet project, the Custos Care Foundation. This program has enrolled 1,701 expectant mothers from across the state’s 17 local government areas in a one-year health insurance scheme, providing comprehensive prenatal, delivery, and postnatal support, along with financial aid and foodstuffs.
“Our vision is to significantly reduce maternal and infant mortality in our state. It is unacceptable that in this era, women should lose their lives giving birth or that infants should not survive their first days due to preventable complications,” Mrs. Mbah stated, urging beneficiaries to utilize professional care at health facilities.
These state-level actions align with national goals, including the Federal Government’s pledge to cut maternal mortality by 20% and under-five mortality by 15% by 2027, supported by initiatives like the distribution of professional kits to midwives in Enugu.
The upcoming Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week will roll out simultaneous services at public facilities statewide, offering a critical opportunity for widespread implementation.
Enugu’s initiatives signal a hopeful path forward, positioning the state as a potential leader in maternal health innovation in West Africa.
