Abia Records Nigeria’s Lowest Maternal, Infant Mortality Rates as Healthcare Reforms Yield Results

By Ezechukwu Adimoha

The Abia State Government says it recorded Nigeria’s lowest maternal and infant mortality rates in the first quarter of 2026, attributing the achievement to its sustained investments in renovating, retrofitting and equipping 200 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) under the first phase of Project Ekwueme.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting in Umuahia. He said the feat was confirmed during the First Quarter 2026 Health Sector Performance Dialogue, where states were assessed on key healthcare indicators.

According to him, out of the 200 Primary Healthcare Centres, 139 have so far been fully operational, including 77 World Bank-supported facilities, while 50 additional centres are currently being equipped.

Prince Kanu further announced that 12 more PHCs would become operational within the next two weeks, bringing the total number of functional centres in the state to 151.

The Information Commissioner said healthcare delivery has also improved through the state government’s Digital Health Link Project, with 9,136 patients enrolled on the digital platform across nine hospitals over the past 10 months.

He further disclosed that enrolment under the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme increased from 40,000 beneficiaries in December 2024 to 225,581 as of this month.

The commissioner also said the state government is finalising work on the Obingwa General Hospital, which has been rehabilitated, expanded and equipped with modern digital health and telemedicine facilities ahead of its inauguration for public use.

He added that Abia is leading a joint initiative involving Anambra, Delta and Akwa Ibom states to digitise immunisation records and improve vaccination tracking for children. He also advised residents to observe proper food hygiene and safety practices to prevent food poisoning, the focus of the Ministry of Health’s weekly public health advisory.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Ogbonnaya Uche, said the quarterly performance assessment was coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health using data collected directly from health facilities across the country.

Professor Uche said Abia recorded only one maternal death in the first quarter of 2026, the same figure reported in the last quarter of 2025, reflecting sustained improvements in maternal healthcare.

He added that neonatal mortality declined from nine cases in the fourth quarter of 2025 to seven cases in the first quarter of 2026.

According to him, the improved performance validates the state government’s sustained investments in strengthening primary healthcare, which caters to about 80 per cent of the population’s healthcare needs.