Enugu State has recorded significant improvements in the utilisation of primary healthcare services, with visits to Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) rising by 80 percent and childhood immunisation coverage exceeding the national target, according to the Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ENSPHDA).
The achievements were highlighted during the 2026 Biannual Meeting and Supportive Supervisory Visit to the Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centre in Ihe Ward, Nsukka Local Government Area.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of ENSPHDA, Dr. Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, disclosed that annual visits to PHCs increased from about 800,000 to more than 1.4 million. She also revealed that coverage for the third dose of the pentavalent (Penta-3) vaccine rose from 78.5 percent to 88.9 percent, surpassing Nigeria’s national target of 85 percent.
According to the agency, the increase reflects improved access to healthcare services and greater public confidence in the state’s primary healthcare system.
Representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) commended the state’s efforts to strengthen primary healthcare delivery.
The South-East Zonal Coordinator of WHO Nigeria, Dr. Chukwumuanya Igbonekwu, said regular supervisory visits to health facilities help improve accountability, monitor progress, identify operational challenges and strengthen service delivery. He added that WHO remains committed to supporting Enugu State in building a resilient healthcare system capable of responding to current and future public health needs.
UNICEF’s Enugu Field Office, represented by Health Logistics Consultant Dr. Charles Abel on behalf of Field Office Chief Juliet Chiluwe, also praised the state’s focus on improving healthcare services, particularly for women and children. The organisation described routine oversight of health facilities as an important step toward improving maternal and child health outcomes and reaffirmed its support for ongoing healthcare programmes.
Governor Peter Mbah said his administration invested in constructing 260 primary healthcare centres across the state’s 260 political wards to improve access to healthcare, especially in rural communities. He noted that the expansion of healthcare infrastructure was aimed at ensuring that residents could receive quality medical services closer to their homes.
The governor also said the state is working to further reduce maternal deaths by expanding access to antenatal, postnatal and emergency healthcare services. He urged traditional rulers, women leaders and community stakeholders to promote routine immunisation, maternal healthcare, enrolment in health insurance programmes and community monitoring of healthcare services.
In addition, Governor Mbah announced plans to equip the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Teaching Hospital with advanced diagnostic facilities, including MRI and CT scan services, to reduce the need for patients to travel outside the area for specialised medical care.
Providing further details on recent healthcare investments, Dr. Ani-Osheku said the state has constructed 260 new primary healthcare centres, added more than 3,300 hospital beds and over 500 baby cots, and recruited approximately 2,250 healthcare workers to strengthen service delivery across communities.
She added that the proportion of women delivering their babies in health facilities with skilled birth attendants increased from 40.9 percent to 59.3 percent within six months. The agency also reported improvements in malaria treatment services, expanded medicine availability, the introduction of digital health systems in clinics, shorter patient waiting times and increased access to ultrasound services at the primary healthcare level.
Health officials said the improvements are expected to strengthen healthcare access, improve maternal and child health outcomes, and increase the use of preventive healthcare services across Enugu State.
