The Enugu State Government has launched a 30-member task force to address maternal and infant deaths under the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Innovation Initiative (MAMII) project.
The inauguration marked the conclusion of the MAMII workshop, which began on Oct. 6 and ended on Oct. 10, with participants drawn from hospitals, health agencies, and development partners working in the state.
Members of the committee comprise health professionals and representatives of donor organisations and implementing partners committed to improving maternal and newborn health outcomes.
Speaking at the event in Enugu, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, described the exercise as a major step toward reducing preventable maternal and neonatal deaths.
He explained that the initiative was the product of weeks of collaboration and planning, including the development of a co-creation document that will guide implementation across health facilities.
According to him, Gov. Peter Mbah’s administration is pursuing a comprehensive health reform that cuts across all tiers of the healthcare system, from primary to tertiary levels.
Ugwu urged community leaders and health stakeholders to play active roles in ensuring that pregnant women and newborns access essential health services to achieve zero preventable deaths in the state.
Mr Abraham Ahmadu, the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) National Lead Team to Enugu, said the MAMII task force would coordinate, monitor, and accelerate multisectoral interventions aimed at reducing maternal and newborn mortality.
In her remarks, Dr Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, emphasised that the initiative seeks to ensure that no woman in the state dies from pregnancy-related causes.
She highlighted Nigeria’s high maternal and neonatal mortality rates, noting that about three out of every 10 maternal deaths globally occur in the country.
“This is the alarming trend we are determined to reverse,” she said, adding that the project would also address child mortality and improve survival rates for under-five children.
She called for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the success of the initiative, expressing confidence that Enugu would exceed the targets set under the MAMII project.
The Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, pledged that traditional institutions would help sensitise communities about the objectives of the programme.
Represented by Igwe Emmanuel Anichebe of Akokwu Umana Community, Asadu commended both the Federal and State Governments for introducing the project to tackle maternal and newborn deaths at the grassroots.
Similarly, Mrs Adaeze Ugwu, the State Coordinator of the World Health Organisation (WHO), assured that the organisation would continue to support the state with technical expertise to ensure the project achieves its goals.