The Enugu State Government is establishing 260-type 2 basic healthcare clinics to improve delivery and bring services closer to the people.

Governor Peter Mbah revealed this when he received Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, at Government House, Enugu.

Governor Mbah, who observed that his administration was taking innovative steps to change healthcare, welcomed the federal government’s engagement in subnational initiatives to develop a strong and resilient system.

I’m delighted this federal administration is acknowledging the states’ involvement in achieving health metrics, such as maternal and newborn mortality rates, which won’t happen top-down.

Together with the federal government, we’re doing some aggressive things. We are building new 260-type 2 primary healthcare centres in 260 state wards.

He said the administration had identified infrastructure deficits, staff shortages, and other factors as the biggest challenges to productivity in the state’s health sector, and that the government was using technology and its developmental template to address the issues and make the system attractive, effective, efficient, and functional.

“We have a strong fee development plan. As we address our infrastructural deficits, we also recognise our manpower deficits, and just minutes ago, before you arrived, we were already dealing with some tension with resident doctors who were concerned that the lack of manpower was affecting their productivity and needed to be addressed.

“We appreciate technology’s importance. We are also pleased to learn how to quadruple our workforce production in the country. He stated it was heartwarming.

However, the governor bemoaned the widespread departure of medical professionals from the nation in search of better opportunities overseas, stating, “This Japanese syndrome is indeed a challenge. In terms of the migration syndrome, I don’t believe any industry has suffered as much as the medical industry. Therefore, I’m happy that the federal government is stepping up to the plate. To make sure that we produce more medical professionals, they are taking action.


The minister had earlier informed the governor that he was in Enugu to observe the Federal School of Dental Technology, Enugu, students’ graduation. He revealed that the school is now affiliated with the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and grants degrees. “That school currently has more than 2000 students enrolled. On Thursday, nearly 300 students will get their diplomas. They had created a great deal of capability outside from that. In fact, it’s the model that guides all of our other institutions. Unlike the governor of Abia State, who has spent 900 million on entertainment and food, we performed numerous diagnoses to determine what needed to be done, the man stated.