Stakeholders Battle Maternal Mortality Rate In Enugu

Stakeholders in the health sector have commenced efforts to reduce maternal mortality in Enugu State through improved sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.

They made this known during a one-day state level stakeholders’ engagement/ co-creation meeting organised by the Enugu State Ministry of Primary Health care Development Agency in collaboration with Sexual Reproductive Health Programme, held at Independence Layout, Enugu

At the stakeholders’ meeting, the SWAP officer of the Enugu State Ministry of Health, Francisca Ujunwa, said the gathering was to find practical ways of strengthening sexual and reproductive health services to curb maternal deaths in the state.

She noted that maternal mortality remains a concern across all states in Nigeria, stressing that no state is entirely free from such cases.

According to her, the initiative is designed to proffer sustainable solutions that will significantly reduce maternal deaths.

Ujunwa added that the Enugu State Government has shown readiness to implement strategies and interventions that will lead to measurable improvements in maternal health outcomes.

“The essence of the meeting was to discuss a way to improve on the sexual and Reproductive Health, SRH to help reduce the maternal and mortality rate in Enugu. The maternal and mortality rate is in every state. There is no state that don’t have the case of maternal and mortality rate and that was why this event aimed at proffering solution to prevent maternal death in the state,” she said.

The Enugu State Primary Healthcare focal person, Dr Okolo Franklin, said the meeting marked the official commencement of a sexual and reproductive healthcare delivery project in the state.

He explained that the project is an initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria, driven by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

He stated that the programme was introduced following critical health indicators that highlight the importance of maternal and newborn health to national development.

“This project is being piloted in selected states to generate evidence that will guide future expansion,” he said.

Dr Franklin further disclosed that the programme is currently being implemented in eight states across the federation, with two local government areas selected in each state.

“In Enugu, the objective is to assess its effectiveness, generate reliable data, and scale up the intervention for wider impact,” he added.

In his contribution, the focal person for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Enugu State, Dr Nobel Douglas Chimezie, stated that the programme was designed to drastically reduce maternal mortality rates in the country.

He explained that the initiative is primarily targeted at young girls, with the aim of educating them on sexual and reproductive health. As part of the programme, 20 “Big Sisters” have been trained to serve as mentors and counsellors.

“These mentors will guide the girls, provide accurate information, and help ensure that the importance of the programme is clearly understood and not misconstrued by parents and guardians,” he said.