By Dennis Agbo

Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has outlined a sweeping plan to strengthen primary healthcare and basic infrastructure across Enugu State.

Speaking in a stakeholders engagement at Awgu local government area of the state, Governor Mbah said his administration has approved the recruitment of 2,250 health workers—1,350 already onboard—to address staffing gaps in rural facilities.

He added that priority would be given to hiring qualified personnel from host communities to ensure round-the-clock service delivery.

Mbah also announced the rollout of ward-level engagement sessions to identify local development needs, alongside immediate water interventions through the state’s rural water agency to tackle sanitation and public health risks.

On emergency care, he disclosed plans to establish ambulance aggregation centres in every LGA to improve response times, particularly for maternal and critical cases. He further highlighted the state’s adoption of an Electronic Medical Records system to enable seamless access to patient data across facilities.

The Governor listed additional measures including deployment of medical equipment, installation of solar power and boreholes in PHCs, expansion of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, and a target to significantly reduce maternal and child mortality rates.

Linking health and education, he said immunisation compliance would be mandatory for school enrolment, while a free daily meal programme for pupils will commence in September 2026.

He also confirmed that ₦30 billion has been set aside to clear outstanding gratuities before the end of the year.

Earlier, stakeholders—including traditional rulers, religious leaders, women groups, and the Ward Development Committee—called for more healthcare personnel, improved road access, potable water, and ambulance services, especially to support maternal emergencies.

The Coordinating Chairman of Traditional Rulers in Awgu LGA, HRH Igwe M. O. Egbo, acknowledged the state government’s efforts in providing health facilities, noting that they were ready to cooperate and support initiatives to improve healthcare delivery.

He called for functional healthcare services in the council area and urged the deployment of more qualified doctors and nurses to make the facility fully operational.

The Catholic Priest of St. Thomas Parish, Ogwunte, Rev. Fr. Valentine Azubuike provided context on the historical challenges faced by the communities of the LGA in accessing healthcare, explaining that residents were compelled to travel long distances to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), or the Enugu metropolis for medical services.

He expressed appreciation that healthcare services are now geographically closer to the people but stressed that the availability of infrastructure alone is insufficient without qualified healthcare workers.

Beyond healthcare, he raised additional infrastructural challenges affecting communities, including the poor condition of access roads, lack of electricity, and inadequate water supply, and called on the government to address these issues holistically.

Gov Mbah assured them that their concerns were being addressed through ongoing reforms, urging communities to safeguard public facilities and support government efforts.

The meeting underscored the importance of grassroots engagement in governance, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the Governor’s commitments would translate into improved healthcare access and living conditions across Awgu LGA.