The Enugu State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing maternal and newborn mortality by upgrading secondary healthcare facilities across all 17 Local Government Areas.
The pledge was made by the State Commissioner for Health, Professor Emmanuel Obi, during a dissemination meeting on the assessment of health facilities for Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC), held in Enugu on Friday.
Themed “Strengthening Emergency and Newborn Care Through Evidence-Based Assessment,” the meeting was organised by the Enugu State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health’s Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP) programme and Jhpiego, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, USA.
Professor Obi said the state had already begun its own health facility assessment, which would now be harmonised with the national CEmONC evaluation to ensure readiness for federal support under performance-based funding.
“This is an official presentation of findings from the facility assessments conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health, the SWAP Office, and our State Ministry of Health,” he noted.
He explained that the upgrading of facilities would enhance the capacity of secondary healthcare systems in the state to provide emergency maternal and neonatal care. He added that improved readiness would enable Enugu to access funding through the “Hope Health” programme and the SWAP initiative.
Part of a National Renewal Drive
Mrs Francisca Ewoh, SWAP Desk Officer, described the initiative as part of the broader Health Sector Renewal Initiative aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality across Nigeria.
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According to her, pooled donor funds would be allocated to states that meet minimum readiness requirements, with up to $35,000 earmarked per qualified secondary healthcare facility in each local government area.
“Eligibility depends on the availability of adequate infrastructure, consistent utilities, and qualified medical personnel in each facility,” she explained.
Dr Chinyere Ezendu, Enugu State’s focal person for the CEmONC assessment, revealed that only two facilities in the state currently meet the basic requirements for infrastructure, electricity, water, and essential amenities.
She expressed hope that the findings would inform the development of practical strategies to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths.
Dr Chioma Oduenyi, representing Jhpiego, reaffirmed the organisation’s continued technical support for the implementation of the SWAP programme at both federal and state levels.
