The Cecilia Oyebola Foundation has renovated and well equipped the Neonatal Care Unit of the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), popularly known as ParkLane hospital Enugu.
The Lagos based non-governmental foundation established in honour of late Mrs. Cecilia Oyebola, mother of Dr. Yomi Jaye, the Special Adviser to Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah on Health revealed that the intervention was in support of the Enugu State Government’s healthcare transformation agenda.
In his opening remarks at the inauguration of the unit, Dr. Jaye said the aim of the intervention was to drastically reduce infant mortality rate via preventing infections disease on newborn babies given birth in Parklane Hospital.
Dr. Jaye disclosed that the foundation deliberately chose a long-term healthcare intervention over the usual Children’s Day celebrations involving entertainment and gift-sharing as the neonatal ward represents the starting point of life for many children, thus the need make it a safe and infection-free environment for newborns.
“I was born on Children’s Day and one of the things that I committed myself to do is that on every Children’s Day, I try to make the children to be happy. We try to see how we may impact on children, make them happy.”
“Two weeks ago, I told all my team members, we are not doing parties. Let’s come to Neonatal Ward, where the children start their life. Let’s see what we can do there,” Jaye said.
Jaye further revealed that after assessing the ward, the Foundation identified infection prevention as a major concern requiring urgent attention before introduction of new medical equipment, hence the intervention.
“So today, we have stopped something significant- infections among newborns. In the next one year, we will measure the impact by looking at how many children survived and leave the facility healthy,” Jaye said.
The Special Adviser to the State Governor on health Jaye emotionally recalled the death of his brother from neonatal infection years ago and the devastating effect on his mother at that time. This he said inspired his passion for neonatal healthcare improvement.
“So the ParkLane Special Baby Unit is renovated based on the fact that my mom being a child teacher was my first teacher and we felt that we have to do something as a legacy for her every year,” Dr. Jaye said.
Explaining more about the need for a standard Neonatal Care unit, Dr. Jaye said children’s health is delicate, “From the small air they breathe in, to your hand that touches them, can lead to infection that can kill them.”
“So we’re able to get incubator, the modern phototherapy, the infusion pumps and syringe pumps, incubator, autoclave machine, BP with baby cots, among other things.”
The nurses were not left out in the intervention as the Foundation installed Air Conditioner, wardrobes, lockers to make them comfortable even as they take care of the precious ones; Dr. Jaye also announced the donation made by his sister, Dr. Mrs. Tope Alade , who donated UK- style scrub for the nurses,
Inaugurating the renovated unit on Wednesday year 2026 Children’s Day, the former Governor Old Anambra state, Dr. Jim Nwobodo flanked by his wife Mrs. Patricia Nwobodo and the representative of the Enugu State Governor, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, commended the Cecilia Oyedele Foundation for complementing government’s efforts in repositioning the healthcare sector in the state.
“I thank God that I came here today to witness what has been done. The life of a child is everything. What you have done here will not be forgotten,” Dr. Jim Nwobodo applauds.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Enugu State Governor, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia has described the intervention as reflective of the culture of service and commitment promoted by the present administration.
Prof. Onyia further commends Dr. Jaye for his dedication and contributions to the state’s healthcare reforms, noting that ESUTH Parklane had witnessed significant improvements under the current government.
Highpoint of the occasion was the cutting of birthday cake by Dr. Jaye, in celebration of his birthday.
“A Neonatal Intensive Care unit (NICU), a.k.a. an intensive care nursery (ICN), is an intensive care unit (ICU) specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants; Neonatal refers to the first 28 days of life.”
“The NICU is divided into several areas, including a critical care area for babies who require close monitoring and intervention, an intermediate care area for infants who are stable but still require specialized care, and a step down unit where babies who are ready to leave the hospital can receive additional care before being discharged.”
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