Efforts to improve maternal and child health in Ebonyi State have received a significant boost, as the wife of the state governor, Chief Mrs. Mary-Maudaline Nwifuru, continues to implement a series of community-focused initiatives through her foundation, Better Health for Rural Women and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation (BERWO).
Over the past year, the foundation has facilitated the enrollment of 4,078 pregnant women and 600 children under the age of five into the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme. The initiative aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality by expanding access to essential medical care for underserved communities.
“No woman should die while giving life,” Mrs. Nwifuru affirmed through her foundation’s coordinator, Professor Nkechinyere Emma-Echiegu, who shared highlights of BERWO’s activities with reporters.
Support for Widows, Sickle Cell Patients, and Hernia Surgeries
Beyond maternal health, BERWO has constructed housing for widows across the state and enrolled over 300 individuals living with sickle cell disorder into the state’s insurance program. In addition, the foundation has facilitated surgical treatment for more than 300 men and boys suffering from scrotal hernia.
“These are not widely publicized efforts, but they’re making a difference,” Prof. Emma-Echiegu noted. “We want to ensure the children born to these women also survive. That’s why we extended the health insurance to infants.”
Empowerment Through Education and Skills Training
In the area of education, seven students from Ebonyi are now studying in Abuja on full scholarships provided by the foundation. Meanwhile, over 60 youths have received vocational training, complete with startup tools such as laptops and specialized kits to help them begin their careers.
“Skill development is one part. Equally important is equipping beneficiaries to take action immediately. That’s why we ensured they left with tools to support themselves,” the BERWO lead added.
Participants in the digital skills training program, for instance, received HP computers valued at over ₦400,000 each following their completion of computer literacy sessions.
Postnatal Outreach and Family Values Advocacy
Through its Baby Shower Initiative, the foundation plans to distribute 17,000 care packages to new and expectant mothers in rural areas. These postnatal items are intended to support early child care and promote safer motherhood practices.
Prof. Emma-Echiegu also used the occasion to urge parents to raise more self-reliant children and discourage the culture of overprotection. “We’ve spoiled this generation with too much comfort. There’s no shortcut to success—children must learn resilience,” she emphasized.
She further encouraged couples to treat each other with mutual respect and continue building stronger families as the foundation of society.
“We are trying our best, but there’s a lot of work ahead. This generation needs intentional guidance, and we all have a role to play.”
