Transforming newborn care in Enugu, Governor Peter Mbah inaugurates an ultra-modern, advanced neonatal ward at Parklane Hospital to dramatically lower infant mortality.
As part of activities marking the 2026 Children’s Day celebrations, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has officially unveiled the newly renovated and fully re-equipped Neonatal and Special Babies Ward at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Parklane.
The critical upgrade was delivered through a strategic intervention by the Cecilia Oyebola Foundation, established by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Yomi Jaye.
The unit has been outfitted with advanced specialized infrastructure-including modern incubators, phototherapy equipment, infusion and syringe pumps, autoclave machines, and newborn monitoring devices-all designed to strengthen specialized infant care and reduce infant mortality across the state.
Representing the Governor at the commissioning ceremony, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, highly commended Dr. Jaye for his personal sacrifices and deep commitment to expanding Enugu’s healthcare system.
Onyia noted that the intervention beautifully highlights the administration’s core philosophy of public service, where government officials intentionally look beyond their basic administrative tasks to contribute private resources toward state development. He praised Dr. Jaye, who incidentally marked his 51st birthday on the same day, as an exemplary and compassionate public servant.
The Governor remarked that his team has systematically rehabilitated the ESUT Teaching Hospital from the dilapidated structure inherited in 2023 into a rapidly improving, modern medical hub capable of competing with premier clinical facilities across West Africa.
He reaffirmed his administration’s goal of building a world-class healthcare network in Enugu through continuous, data-driven investments in clinical infrastructure, state-of-the-art equipment, and intensive human capital training.
Adding major political weight to the event, the former Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, expressed immense delight at the unprecedented transformations happening in Enugu’s health sector.
Nwobodo, who personally cut the ceremonial ribbon alongside his wife, Dr. Patricia Nwobodo, stated that the world-class standard of the neonatal ward easily rivals advanced medical centers abroad. Applauding Governor Mbah’s visionary leadership, Nwobodo dismissed the claims of political opponents, insisting that the administration’s clear results across sectors prove that Mbah deserves overwhelming support for re-election in 2027.
Sharing his inspiration, Dr. Jaye revealed that the project was executed in loving memory of his late mother and driven by a personal childhood tragedy, having lost his own twin brother to preventable newborn infection complications.
He explained that the unit’s new layout was carefully engineered to meet the highest modern infection prevention protocols. Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of ESUTH, Professor Bethrand Ngwu, thanked the state government and the foundation for their consistent interventions, which have significantly boosted staff morale. He promised that the hospital would maintain the sophisticated equipment properly to maximize its benefits for vulnerable newborns in need of specialized care.
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