October 7, 2025 | Enugu
The Federal Government and the Enugu State Government have intensified efforts to save the lives of mothers and newborns through the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Innovation Initiative (MAMII) – a flagship programme of the Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Pate.
The initiative aims to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths by addressing systemic healthcare challenges in high-burden local government areas across Nigeria. In Enugu State, the project will focus on Oji River, Igboeze North, and Isi-Uzo LGAs, which record some of the highest maternal and neonatal mortality rates.
Speaking during a stakeholder co-creation workshop on Monday in Enugu, Mr. Abraham Ahmadu, National Lead of the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) team, said the programme seeks to eliminate barriers to maternal healthcare by ensuring that pregnant women receive timely, quality, and skilled care at health facilities.
According to him, the five-day workshop will produce a practical implementation roadmap for targeted, community-driven, and facility-based interventions designed to improve healthcare outcomes.
Ahmadu explained that MAMII, already implemented in 33 states and 172 local government areas, is part of the federal government’s renewed effort to reduce preventable maternal and neonatal deaths nationwide. He called for strong collaboration among stakeholders, noting that “no pregnant woman or newborn should die from preventable causes in Enugu State or anywhere in Nigeria.”
Declaring the workshop open, the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said the initiative targets a 30 per cent reduction in maternal mortality and a 60 per cent increase in health facility usage by 2030.
Represented by Dr. Uchechukwu Okenwa, Director of Public Health, Ugwu said the programme convenes ministries, agencies, private sector players, religious leaders, and community actors to jointly design sustainable health interventions tailored to Enugu’s local needs.
He also commended Governor Peter Mbah for prioritising maternal and child health through the construction of 260 Type-3 health centres and the recruitment of qualified medical personnel across all wards in the state.
The Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Ani-Osheku Ifeyinwa, reaffirmed the agency’s full technical support to ensure the project’s successful implementation.
Also speaking, the World Health Organization (WHO) State Coordinator, Mrs. Adaeze Ugwu, pledged the organisation’s continuous backing for the successful and sustainable execution of MAMII interventions across the state. GMTNewsng
