Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, on Friday launched a pet project, “Custos Care Foundation (CCF),” to eradicate Mother and Child mortality in Enugu State by 2030.
The foundation which was flagged off on Thursday across the three Senatorial Zones of the state would improve mother and child healthcare and welfare in the rural communities.
Some of the Local Government Areas that benefitted were Oji River in Enugu West, Nkanu West in Enugu East, and Nsukka in Enugu North Senatorial Zones of Enugu State.
She said that the foundation would pay a one-year health insurance premium for 33 mothers in each of the three Senatorial Zones.
Mrs Mbah said the foundation was born out of her desire to eradicate all barriers to social inclusion and social security in the state.
She said that she was motivated by the desire that everyone in the society would be free from socioeconomic levels of vulnerability.
Mbah said that the foundation would focus on four key areas, which include mother and child healthcare and welfare, primary education for all, women and youth empowerment, social protection and mentoring.
According to her, many mothers cannot afford to seek healthcare services when the need arises because they cannot pay for it.
She said that the government had been trying to achieve the global 2030 target of reducing mothers’ and children’s mortality.
“Still, there is a need for private citizens to participate in this quest to preserve the future of our people because there is no future without mothers and children.
“We dream that by 2030, Enugu will be free from maternal and child mortality. This is why I have decided that my foundation CCF will contribute towards achieving these targets.
“By the Grace of God, we will accomplish this by partnering with relevant agencies and individuals,” Mbah said.
She explained that the health insurance premium would cover children below the age of five as well as support their welfare while some newly born and their mothers would receive a hamper.
“This project is very dear to me because women and children constitute the most vulnerable people in our society, and it is worthy of note that one of the most significant challenges faced by women and children is maternal and child mortality.
“The world has battled against this enemy since time immemorial and stands united to eradicate it. There is nothing as painful as the death of a mother and child,” she said.
Responding, the Council Chairmen of Oji-River and Nkanu West Council Areas, Mr Chinedu Onyeagba, and Uchenna Ejim, thanked Mbah for making their LGAs pioneer beneficiaries of the project.
They advised women to key into the programme for their children’s development and well-being, and the duo pledged to ensure that the project was sustained in their Council Areas.
