By Dr. Collins Ogbu

In the life of every society, there comes a defining moment when leadership either sustains the status quo or boldly reimagines the future. For Enugu State, that moment is now. At the centre of this transformation is Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, whose administration is not merely responding to challenges in the health sector but fundamentally rebuilding it. Recent public discourse surrounding the suspension of a health assistant trainee by a private institution has, perhaps inadvertently, created an opportunity to restate a deeper truth: the Enugu State Government remains focused, deliberate, and fully committed to repositioning healthcare delivery across the state.

For years, Enugu’s healthcare system reflected a troubling pattern familiar in many subnational contexts; underfunded primary healthcare centres, overstretched personnel, aging and inadequate infrastructure, and an overreliance on private or out-of-state medical services. Rural communities were particularly disadvantaged, often forced to travel long distances for basic care. Training institutions operated with limited capacity, while secondary and tertiary facilities struggled with outdated equipment and insufficient staffing. The system was largely reactive, constrained by years of neglect and unable to meet the growing needs of the population.

Governor Mbah’s administration has decisively broken from that past. Anchored on the principle that healthcare is a right and not a privilege, the government undertook a comprehensive audit of the sector and initiated a far-reaching reform agenda. Rather than incremental adjustments, the approach has been bold and systemic; targeting every layer of healthcare delivery, from primary care to specialised services.

Central to this transformation is the rollout of 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across all political wards in the state. This initiative directly addresses the longstanding gap in grassroots healthcare access. Where communities once depended on poorly equipped facilities or distant hospitals, modern, well-positioned centres are now being established to provide quality care within reach. This effort is further strengthened by the recruitment of over 2,250 healthcare workers, a significant intervention aimed at resolving the manpower shortages that previously undermined service delivery.

At the secondary level, general hospitals are undergoing extensive rehabilitation to restore their capacity as reliable referral centres. Facilities such as Uwani General Hospital, which once symbolised infrastructural decline, are being transformed to meet modern standards. These upgrades are ensuring a more efficient continuum of care between primary and tertiary institutions.

The transformation is even more pronounced in tertiary healthcare. The Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Parklane, is experiencing unprecedented infrastructural expansion, including the construction of a twin six-floor Laboratory and Clinical Complex, a seven-floor Nursing Complex equipped with advanced diagnostic facilities, and a modern Accident and Emergency Department. These developments represent a significant leap from the limitations of the past, positioning the institution as a centre of excellence in both service delivery and medical training.

In the area of medical education, the administration has recorded a landmark achievement with the reaccreditation of the ESUT College of Medicine and the subsequent increase in its admission quota to 350 students – the highest among state-owned institutions in Nigeria. This milestone reflects a strategic commitment to building human capital and ensuring a steady pipeline of highly trained medical professionals for the future.

Equally significant is the completion of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Teaching Hospital in Igbo-Eno. Unlike in previous years when a single teaching hospital struggled to meet demand, Enugu now has a second fully equipped facility, with recruitment already underway to commence full-scale operations. This expansion not only improves access to tertiary care but also strengthens the state’s capacity for medical training and research.

Crowning these efforts is the nearly completed 300-bed Enugu International Hospital, a state-of-the-art, super-specialist facility designed to elevate healthcare standards and reduce the need for outbound medical tourism. For decades, many residents sought advanced medical care outside the state or country, often at great financial and emotional cost. This facility represents a turning point, offering world-class services within Enugu and reinforcing the state’s emergence as a healthcare hub.

Amid these sweeping reforms, the government has also demonstrated a strong commitment to transparency and responsible governance. By clearly distancing itself from the internal disciplinary processes of a private institution while engaging relevant stakeholders, it underscores respect for institutional autonomy alongside responsiveness to public concerns.

What is unfolding in Enugu today is not merely policy execution but a comprehensive transformation. The contrast between the past and the present is both clear and compelling; where there were once gaps, there is now structure; where there was decline, there is now renewal. The state is moving from a system defined by limitations to one driven by vision, investment, and measurable progress.
While challenges inevitably remain, the trajectory is unmistakable.

Enugu State is no longer managing a fragile healthcare system; it is building a resilient, modern, and inclusive one. In the final analysis, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s strides in the health sector are redefining not just infrastructure and policy, but the very experience of healthcare for Ndi Enugu, laying the foundation for a future where quality care is accessible, reliable, and sustainable for all.

• By Dr. Ogbu is a Senior Special Assistant, SSA to Enugu State Governor on Strategic Communications 

The Enugu State Government has set-up a multidisciplinary Regulatory Task Team to check deaths, substandard and illegal activities in health facilities in the state notwithstanding their remote locations.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof George Ugwu, disclosed this in a press briefing on Tuesday in Enugu.

Ugwu noted that the Regulatory Task Team had been charged with monitoring, inspecting, and enforcing compliance with health regulations across all 17 local government areas of the state.

According to him, the state government through the ministry of health is unwavering commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of Enugu State residents through the effective regulation of health practices across the state.

The commissioner said that the team would be working with the enabling powers of the Enugu State Health Sector Reform Law 2017, N.7 section 235 and the National Health Act.

The commissioner observed with grave concern that a significant number of private health practitioners and facilities operating in Enugu State had failed to comply with procedural and operational safety standard statutory requirements.

He said, “In particular, many private health facilities have not registered with the Enugu State Ministry of Health.

“Some facilities that are registered have refused or failed to pay their annual renewal fees regularly, in clear violation of the Law.

“Several facilities are operating beyond the scope of services for which they were registered.

“For example, some hospitals registered as 10-bed facilities are operating far beyond their approved bed capacity, some even claim to be multispecialty when they are not.”

He noted the disturbingly trend of untrained and unqualified individuals operating in rural communities, falsely presenting themselves as doctors or nurses and rendering illegal and dangerous health services to the people..

“The ministry views these developments as acts of quackery and unwholesome practices that pose serious risks to public safety, undermine professional standards and erode confidence in the health system.

“The ministry is urging all stakeholders in the health sector — including professional bodies, facility owners, community leaders and the general public — to assist the government in reducing sub-standard and illegal practices in some private health facilities.

“Collective vigilance and cooperation are essential to sanitising the health sector and protecting the lives of Enugu residents,” he said.

Ugwu directed all private hospitals, chemist shops, medical laboratories, and other health facilities operating in the state to:ensure immediate registration with the ministry where applicable and maintain regular and timely payment of annual renewal fees.

“Defaulters will be sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of the Enugu State Health Sector Reform Law, including the payment of appropriate penalties, suspension of operations, or closure of facilities where necessary.

“For further enquiries, or useful information to the State Ministry of Health, please contact: Cyril – 08037955742,” he added.

Responding, the Vice Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Mid-Wives, Mr Innocent Ezema, and Vice Chairman, Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors, Enugu State, Mr Chukwumerije Anuluw, gave maximum support of their associations to the task team.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has firmly denied reports suggesting that the Federal Government directed it to halt enforcement actions against sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products, describing such claims as false and misleading.

The clarification was contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday and signed by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who said the agency had received no formal communication instructing it to suspend its regulatory activities in the sector.

“The said publication is false, misleading, and does not reflect any official communication received by the Agency from the Federal Government,” Adeyeye stated.

According to the agency, all its enforcement actions are carried out strictly within its statutory mandate and in line with duly communicated government policies and directives. It stressed that existing laws and regulatory frameworks continue to guide its operations.

“At no time has the Agency received any formal directive ordering the suspension of its regulatory or enforcement activities in respect of sachet alcohol products,” the Director-General added.

NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health and ensuring compliance across the food and beverage industry, noting that any decision affecting national regulatory actions would be formally communicated through authorised government channels.

The agency also warned against the circulation of unverified information, cautioning that such reports could trigger unnecessary public anxiety, economic uncertainty and misinterpretation of government policy.

“NAFDAC, therefore, urges members of the public, industry stakeholders and the media to disregard the false report and to rely only on verified information issued through the Agency’s official platforms and authorised government communication channels,” Adeyeye said.

The clarification comes amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny of sachet alcohol products, which have remained a subject of public health debate due to concerns over accessibility and abuse, particularly among young people.

Reiterating its stance, NAFDAC said it remained resolute in its commitment to public health, economic stability and the national interest.