WHO lauds Ugwuanyi on Primary Healthcare

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has congratulated Governor Ifeanyi
Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for the remarkable growth and success attained
by the Primary Healthcare system in the state, in providing affordable
and qualitative healthcare delivery at the grassroots.

Speaking during the flag-off of the rescheduled second round of 2017
Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Enugu, the
representative of the organisation in charge of Measles prevention,
Mrs. Eunice Ajayi, expressed delight at Gov. Ugwuanyi’s commitment to
quality healthcare delivery.

Mrs. Ajayi noted that the governor has been extremely supportive in
terms of counterpart funding, saying: “From what I have seen so far,
Enugu State is set to take the first position in the implementation of
this campaign because all hands are on deck”.

While reiterating the agency’s commitment towards strengthening
maternal and child healthcare delivery in Enugu, Mrs. Ajayi disclosed
that she was in the state to “support and supervise the upcoming
measles campaign” scheduled for March this year.

She reaffirmed the determination of WHO to ensure that all programmes
are implemented according to the international standard for the
overall interest of the beneficiaries.

Other development partners also commended the governor for his
presence at the programme since the inception of his administration as
well as contributions to quality healthcare delivery, especially with
regard to the release of N12.4 million for the forthcoming measles
campaign.

In his address, Gov. Ugwuanyi explained that the introduction of the
Maternal, Newborn and Child Health programme was prompted by the
compelling need to address the unacceptably high maternal, newborn and
child mortality rates in Nigeria and to explore the most effective
ways to bring it under control.

The governor added that “it is also in line with the strategy adopted
in 2010 by the National Council on Health (NCH) – the nation’s highest
decision-making body on health matters – to combat the problem”.

He recalled that his administration at its inception made a commitment
to the programme through the re-launch of the Free Maternal and Child
Services in all public health facilities in the state, noting that the
programme “is a week-long package of events aimed at delivering an
integrated plan of promotional and preventive services that are both
cost-effective and useful for improving maternal, newborn and child
health in the society”.

“We are proud to report that the State Government successfully
sustained the programme despite the current economic challenges and
the impact of the programme is being felt in all corners of the state
with records showing a progressive decline in the rate of maternal and
infant morbidity and mortality, in the state.

“The State was able to achieve 82 percent coverage of children under
5 years of age in the first round of the programme that ended in
August last year and has set a target of 800,000 children or about 95
percent coverage in this second round.

“We have indeed earned national and international recognition as a
mother and child-friendly State owing to the successful implementation
of the Free Maternal and Child Health Care Programme.

“I want to thank all the medical health professionals and other health
workers who have been working tirelessly to improve health care
delivery especially as they relate to maternal and Child health in the
state.

“I must also express our profound gratitude to our partners- National
Primary Health Care Development Agency, UNICEF, WHO e.t.c for their
continuing support and I use this occasion to reaffirm  our commitment
to remit counterpart funds for health programmes and to generally,
provide a conducive environment for the successful implementation of
such programmes in Enugu State.
“Finally, I wish to reassure the good people of Enugu State that this
administration will continue to give prime and adequate attention to
issues relating to the health and well being of our people and I am
sure that with your continued support and cooperation, we will be able
to achieve our set targets and objectives in the State’s Health
Sector”.