Enugu 4-Tier Health System Built on Inclusive, Affordable and Quality Care, Says Commissioner

The Enugu State Government says its four-tier health system is designed to deliver inclusive, affordable and quality healthcare in line with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The State Commissioner for Health, Professor George Ugwu, stated this while delivering a lecture at the Researching Africa Conference 2 held at Princess Alexandria Hall, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The event was organised by the university’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology in partnership with Insight Health Group.

The lecture, themed “Three Years of Bold Reforms Across Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and Emerging Quaternary Healthcare in Enugu State under Governor Peter Mbah,” highlighted ongoing reforms across the state’s health sector.

Professor Ugwu said Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s investments in healthcare infrastructure go beyond physical development, describing them as investments in human capital, social protection, productivity and long-term sustainability.

He explained that the system is structured around 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across all political wards, general and cottage hospitals across the 17 local government areas, two tertiary teaching hospitals, and an upcoming 300-bed International Quaternary Hospital designed to position Enugu as a medical tourism hub.

According to him, access to healthcare services has been strengthened through a subsidised Universal Health Coverage scheme, with residents paying about ₦12,000 annually under the state health insurance programme.

He said the ward-based primary healthcare centres are designed to be within walking distance of residents, with facilities including clean water, sanitation systems, maternal and child health services, solar power, immunisation support and staff accommodation.

Professor Ugwu further disclosed that 2,250 additional health workers have been recruited, while the primary healthcare centres have been digitalised with an Electronic Medical Records system to improve service delivery.

He noted that general and cottage hospitals across the state are undergoing renovation and expansion, with modern diagnostic equipment, surgical capacity upgrades, improved laboratories, ambulances and strengthened referral systems.

On tertiary healthcare, he said the state operates two teaching hospitals — the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Parklane, Enugu, and the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Teaching Hospital, Igbo-Eno, Nsukka.

He listed upgrades at ESUTH to include a twin six-floor laboratory and clinical complex, a seven-floor nursing complex, MRI diagnostic services, and a two-floor accident and emergency department linked to the state emergency response system.

Professor Ugwu added that SUMAS Teaching Hospital has been remodelled and expanded, with recruitment ongoing for full-scale clinical operations.

He also disclosed that the proposed 300-bed International Super-Specialist Hospital in Enugu is designed to reduce outbound medical tourism in Africa, with advanced medical equipment and specialist personnel.

On medical training, he said accreditation has been secured for the Awgu School of Midwifery and the Enugu State College of Nursing Sciences in Enugu and Oji River, with support from the World Health Organization.

He added that infrastructure upgrades at the Awgu School of Midwifery include a 150-bed hostel, new accommodation facilities, solar lighting, an ICT-enabled library, modern classrooms and clinical demonstration units.

Professor Ugwu further noted that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has approved an increase in the annual intake of medical students at ESUTH to 350, following expanded infrastructure and training capacity.

He also said the state has established a Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, with plans to integrate it with ambulance services and a central medical store for efficient emergency response and medical supply management.

He explained that the reforms support multiple SDGs, including poverty reduction, improved health outcomes, gender equality, economic growth, reduced inequality and sustainable urban development.

The lecture, which attracted top academics and filled Princess Alexandria Hall, was attended by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Professor Simon Ortuanya, represented by his deputy, members of the university council and other stakeholders.