PACIEH IN THE NEWS


PACIEH’s Journey from School Feeding to Healthcare
PACIEH (Pan-African Community Initiative on Education and Health) began with a mission to support education through a school feeding program aimed at alleviating hunger and promoting school attendance in rural schools. The nutrition program, a cornerstone of its early work, addressed food insecurity and enabled pupils to focus on their studies, improving both their academic performance and physical well-being. By providing meals, PACIEH helped to remove one of the key barriers to education in underserved areas. As PACIEH evolved, it recognized the importance of addressing broader social determinants of health, leading to an expansion beyond education into healthcare services.
With full funding from the TY Danjuma Foundation (TYDF), PACIEH established the Goodwill Medical Centre in Enugu East Local Government Area, Nigeria. This healthcare facility was designed to provide quality medical services to low-income communities, addressing a significant gap in access to healthcare. The Goodwill Medical Centre now serves as a critical resource for these populations, offering affordable and accessible medical care in a setting where healthcare services were previously scarce. The transition from school feeding to healthcare exemplifies PACIEH’s commitment to holistic development in rural and low-income areas.
By addressing both educational and healthcare needs, PACIEH continues to improve the well-being of children and their families, supporting healthier and more educated communities in Nigeria. PACIEH’s efforts not only enhance children’s educational opportunities but also ensure that families in underserved areas have access to the healthcare services they need to thrive.
Official Commissioning of Goodwill Medical Centre (GMC) Enugu, southeast Nigeria on the November 28, 2023. Fully funded by the TY Danjuma Foundation. The Centre will provide quality healthcare services to low-income and poor families.

Our Founder/CEO – Professor Uche Amazigo is one of the eminent persons awarded the 2023 Distinguished Fellowship of the Academy of Public Health (DFAPH). Professor Amigo’s brief by the selection committee is a summary of her leadership in global health. “Uche Veronica Amazigo is a distinguished professor of Medical Parasitology and a renowned public health specialist. She holds the honor of being a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science. Throughout her illustrious career, Professor Amazigo has made valuable contributions in the fields of health, parasitology, and social inclusion and development. Her expertise has been instrumental in the control of neglected tropical diseases, particularly onchocerciasis (river blindness). Her leadership and dedication have left a lasting impact on global public health, making her a highly respected figure in her field”. Read the full press release of the award here.
Recently, PACIEH participated in the workshop for drafting of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) policy held in Enugu and all the geo- political zones, where we made our input to the development of the NHGSP policy. The Federal Government has approved the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme policy.
Members of PACIEH Team are passionate about changing lives and improving education, nutrition and health in our communities. Even the COVID-19 pandemic could not deter us. The life-changing projects implemented by our team include interventions to evaluate and improve education, improving nutrition in underserved communities and control of neglected tropical diseases. In addition, our founder/CEO was a guest speaker on Episode 13 of the Global Health Matters Podcast.
In Episode 13 of Global Health Matters Podcast, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with three experts. They answered three major questions: What are the differences between the various paths to a disease-free world? Why are we pursuing eradication of some diseases while for others, control or elimination is the more realistic option? Our founder/CEO, Professor Uche Amazigo shares lessons she learned during her tenure as the Director of the WHO African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control; David Reddy discusses the new and exciting innovations for malaria elimination; and Aidan O’Leary makes the case for pursuing worldwide eradication of polio. Join us in this discovery of what is needed to reduce or remove the risk of infectious diseases. Click here to listen to an excellent and engaging discussion.

Professor Uche Amazigo
Prof. Amazigo led three multi-disciplinary studies (2017 -2020). These studies were initiated and coordinated by PACIEH. Results contributed to policies, modification of strategies and improved the quality of secondary school education in Anambra state, Nigeria. Click here to download a summary report of these studies.

Professor Chinyelu A. Ekwunife
Prof. Ekwunife coordinated World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, 2021. The WHO launched 2030 roadmap to end NTDs and officiall recognised January 30 as World NTDs Day. Students and staff of Nnamdi Azikiwe University for participating. In the process were reminded of control methods for NTDs. Learn more.

Professor Nkadi Onyegegbu
Prof. Onyegegbu fed 280 inmates in Nsukka Transformation and Correction Center in 2020; fed 294 inmates in Nsukka Transformation and Correction Center in 2021; and distributed food items to the Less Privileged Men and Women in Ibagwa-Ani, Ovoko, Alor-Uno, Ogbukpa, rural communities in Enugu state. Learn more.

Health
School eye care programme, deworming and school feeding

Education
Women’s economic empowerment

Research
Improve state policies on girl-child education and access to education
Download PACIEH Reports
PACIEH Girl-Child Education Report
A research study by Prof. Uche Amazigo and Prof. L.R Akudolu funded by Anambra State Government. Download here.
PACIEH Capacity Building of Teachers Report
PACIEH Training on difficult subject topics and administration of Science teachers in Anambra State. Download here.
Glossary of PACIEH's Work
This document showcases the work PACIEH does to improve health, nutrition and wellbeing of pupils in schools where we intervene. Download here.
Please click on image below to download report
PACIEH Educational Projects in Anambra State
PACIEH education projects are selectively focused to liberate households from the shackles of low self-esteem, promoting education as a supreme investment in human capital development. PACIEH continues to work with the State Ministry of Education. From 2016 -2020, PACIEH coordinated through the leadership of the CEO four multi-disciplinary research studies. These studies were funded by Anambra State Government and The World Bank. The impact is visible in the educational performances of Anambra State Secondary School Students at national and international competitions in the last 4 years.

PARTNERS
The Royal Thai Embassy, Abuja
Mission to Save The Helpless (MITOSATH)
Enugu State Home Grown School Feeding Programme
Heineken African Foundation
Enugu State Universal Basic Educational Board (ENSUBEB)
Ministry of Education, Anambra State ( 2016 – to date)
TruValu Nig. Ltd
Nigerian Breweries Plc
Central School, Afor-Agu, Abatete, Idemili North LGA, Anambra State
Community Nursery & Primary School, Oma-Eke, Udi LGA, Enugu
Salvation Army Nursery & Primary School, Afor-Agu, Abatete
Central Nursery & Primary School, Eke, Udi LGA, Enugu State