The Anambra Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners, has intensified efforts to eliminate maternal deaths and improve maternal and child health outcomes statewide.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, said this during a stakeholders’ engagement on maternal health performance on Wednesday June 24 in Awka. Obidike reiterated the state government’s resolve to ensure that no woman dies from preventable pregnancy-related causes through strengthened healthcare systems, improved planning, and targeted interventions across communities.
The meeting featured presentations on the June 2026 maternal health performance update by Mrs Ijeoma Ikeanyionwu, Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response Desk Officer.
According to Ijeoma, Anambra recorded 84.9 percent coverage for fourth antenatal care visits, 83.2 percent facility-based deliveries, and 91.8 percent skilled birth attendance, exceeding national averages. She added that postnatal care coverage remained high at 73.2 percent for mothers and 71.2 percent for newborns, reflecting sustained improvements in maternal healthcare services.
Also speaking, the State Immunisation Officer, Mrs Edith Onwuka, highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen immunisation coverage through primary healthcare service champions and other community-based health interventions.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr Chuma Emembolu, provided updates on disease surveillance activities, noting that systems were actively monitoring measles, yellow fever, acute flaccid paralysis, Lassa fever and Mpox.
Speaking on behalf of UNICEF, the Health Manager, Mr Martin Dohlshen, emphasised the need to strengthen maternal and child health systems, improve data quality, and enhance service delivery. Also speaking, UNICEF’s Health Systems Specialist, Dr Emmanuel Emedo, commended the state’s progress in maternal and child healthcare but emphasised the need to further improve data management systems.
All Stakeholders agreed on the need for measures to further strengthen emergency obstetric care, improve referral systems, expand disease surveillance infrastructure, and enhance primary healthcare services across the state.
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