Ifenyinwa Ani-Osheki, executive secretary Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, with the traditional ruler of host community, and other health personnel as the Enugu State flagged off Child Health Week.
Enugu State government has urged pregnant and nursing mothers to make use of the modern and equipped health facilities in their various rural areas instead of quacks and traditional birth attendants that are not properly trained in child delivery.
Ifenyinwa Ani Osheki, executive secretary and CEO of Enugu State Primary Development Agency, made the call during the 2025 First Round of Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week Plus HPV organized by Enugu State Primary HealthCare Development Agency, state Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNICEF and funding support from GAVI.
The event, which took place at Umueze Primary Healthcare Centre Nkanu West Local Government, was well attended by pregnant and nursing mothers who were given various gifts including Multiple Micro Nutrient Supplement Drug.
The Executive Secretary explained that the MNSD drug builds blood level both in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and that it acts as very good alternative to the routine antenatal drug that they can use for up to six months free of charge, provided by the organisers.
She also said that out of the 260 type 2 primary facilities under construction by the state government across the state, that 100 have already been completed.
“Just yesterday, we were reviewing it to see where we are with those that have been fully completed; as of now, we have over 100 of them that have been completed. We are beginning to oprationalise facilities and I can mention some facilities that have been opreationalised,” she said.
She also said that they were not focusing only on the new ones, but also renovating existing primary health centres, because the essence is to ensure that no community member should work for more than ten minutes to be able to access a healthcare centre.
“In renovating the primary healthcare centre, it will help to complement the construction to ensure that people would have the required health infrastructure, qualified health care workers and availability of commodities.
According to her, the governor has approved the recruitment of 2,200 primary health care workers. “We are bringing them in phases; we are done with the first 450. We are embarking on the second 450 making them 900. Before the end of this year, we would have fully onboarded the 2,200. His Excellency is also committed to pay his counterpart funding to ensuring that each of these facilities have the right sets of essential medication.
“When we talk about essential medication, we have the list of over 150; so, regardless of whatever health challenges that the people present, we can adequately deal with them. Interesting thing about these facilities is that all the new ones will be fitted with solarise energy,” she said.
The executive secretary also announced that the government has given the Agency approval to onboard officially NYSC health workforce and that they have already been posted to different health facilities. They comprise doctors, pharmacists, medical lab scientists, nurses, radiologists.
John Ogbodo, executive chairman Nkanu West Local Government Area, who earlier flagged off the event, promised to carry out and sponsor campaigns to rural areas to ensure that pregnant and nursing mothers understand the benefit of accessing government health facilities.
He thanked Governor Peter Mbah for taking the health of the people in rural areas as his priority with the Type 2 health facilities, renovating of the existing ones, and equipping them with both drugs and human materials.
The chairman commended the UNICEF interventions in the state and the LGA, describing such as great.
Emeka Ani, traditional ruler of the community who graced the event, also promised to do everything possible within his reach to ensure the centre functions well.

link
More Stories
Factors affecting breastfeeding initiation among mothers in Riyadh primary healthcare clinics: a cross-sectional study | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
Exclusive breastfeeding determinants among healthcare professionals in Northern Ghanaian hospitals: a cross-sectional study | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
Poor access to breastfeeding counseling services and associated factors among lactating mothers who had optimal antenatal care follow-up in Sub-saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis of the recent Demographic and Health Survey | BMC Health Services Research