In her determination to ensuring protection of pregnant women, proper development of their babies, safe delivery and proper growth of their children, the Wife of the Enugu State Governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, has expanded her MamaCare health insurance scheme to post – natal, enrolling 868 additional.pregnant women.
The pregnant women drawn from the 17 local government areas of the state, were enrolled into the Enugu State health insurance scheme to ensure safe motherhood and reduce the financial burden of childbirth on families.
Beneficiaries from Oki – River Local Government Area
The enrolment executed through her Pet project, Custos Care Foundation (CCF), was held on Saturday, April 15,2026, at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, with the Theme, “A Healthy Life Begins in the Womb.”.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Mbah said the MamaCare Health Insurance Onboarding Programme was designed to ensure that vulnerable pregnant women could access quality healthcare before, during and after childbirth without being hindered by medical costs.
She said the MamaCare Initiative, launched in 2024, had already enrolled more than 1,800 pregnant women, providing access to antenatal care, delivery services and postnatal support.
According to her, the expanded programme rests on four pillars: access to healthcare, maternal nutrition and wellness, safe pregnancy and delivery, and postnatal and early-child support.
“Health insurance is therefore not simply about providing a card. It is about providing access, it is about providing protection, and sometimes it is about saving a life,” she said.
Mrs Mbah urged beneficiaries to attend antenatal appointments regularly, take warning signs seriously and seek treatment at accredited healthcare facilities.
She also announced plans to launch “Hope After Grief,” a support programme for women experiencing grief, trauma and emotional challenges during pregnancy, childbirth or after delivery. She added that the foundation planned to reach at least 1,000 additional mothers across rural and semi-urban communities in 2026.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage, Mrs Edith Okolo, said the agency was collaborating with Mrs Mbah to implement the programme.
Okolo said Mrs Mbah was funding one year of health insurance coverage for the beneficiaries, while the agency would register them and provide access to accredited public, private and mission hospitals across the state.
She said beneficiaries would receive antenatal, delivery and newborn healthcare services under the scheme, adding that the annual premium after the sponsored period was N12,000.
The Managing Director of Custos Care Foundation, Mrs Egodi Igwe, said the foundation had enrolled 1,801 women in 2024 and was adding another 868 beneficiaries in the latest phase.
She disclosed that the foundation had invested more than N20 million in health insurance coverage for pregnant women and would expand the programme in phases.
Guest Speaker, Dr Omeke Chidinma urged pregnant women to eat healthy food. to protect themselves and their babies.
The Guest Speaker , Dr Omeke Chidinma, Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology,Enugu state University Teaching hospital, Park Lane, Enugu, who spoke on the importance of obstetrics and gynecology, and health care generally to the women, said the presentation was also in regards with what the Governor’s was doing in enrolling pregnant women into health insurance ,so that they can get free medical care in the 267 healthcare centers all over Enugu
Dr Jaiye( L) Dr Omeke( R) fielding questions from newmen on why pregnant women should live a healthy life.
She advised nursing mothers not to allow visitors to carry their babies , especially if the babies were sleeping to prevent the baby from contracting skin disease.
She also advised pregnant women to eat healthy, vegetables, fruits and to avoid junk foods . She also told them not to skip meals.
In his brief remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health,Dr Yomi Jaiye said he was at the event to support pregnant women and encourage them to live a healthy life..
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Chigozie Chukwu, described the initiative as “beautiful and fantastic,” saying it would significantly reduce the financial burden associated with childbirth.
She prayed God to bless Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah for her love and support for Enugu women and children.
Highlights of the event were the distribution of 10kg bag of rice to the pregnant women in attendance, handing over of the health insurance cards to the beneficiaries and questions and answers section, in which women who have correct answers were given Twenty thousand Niara each.
The event attracted pregnant from the 17 Local Government Area of the state.
