Total Care Mind and Body Initiative - Joint Problem Solving For Holistic Healthcare
In a groundbreaking move toward comprehensive and inclusive healthcare in Nigeria, the UNTH Foundation and the Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation (CALMHAF) formalized their collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today, December 17, 2025. This historic agreement builds directly on the courtesy visit paid by the UNTH Foundation team, led by its dedicated CEO, Professor Theresa Nwagha, to CALMHAF's office in Independence Layout, Enugu, just five days earlier on December 12, 2025.
The benefits of this collaboration extend far beyond the walls of the hospital and will have a transformative impact on Enugu State and the wider region through our joint “Total Care Mind and Body Initiative.” This initiative focuses on holistic support for communities, especially the underserved.
Designed as a joint proactive, problem-solving Initiative, it encourages early preventive steps and help-seeking behaviors, thereby reducing emergencies and medical costs.
Other benefits of this initiative include:
* Improved Access to Care: Communities in Enugu will gain access to integrated holistic care closer to home, with joint outreach programs promoting early intervention, destigmatization campaigns, and free or subsidized mental health screenings alongside physical health services. This will particularly support vulnerable groups, including mothers, adolescents, low-income families, and rural populations who often face barriers to specialized care.
* Improved Healthcare System: Healthcare providers at UNTH and affiliated facilities will receive training and resources to identify and address mental health concerns routinely, leading to more accurate diagnoses, better treatment adherence, and reduced readmissions due to unaddressed psychological factors.
* Broader Regional and National Impact: As a model of successful integration, this partnership has the potential to influence healthcare policy and practices across southeastern Nigeria and beyond. By demonstrating measurable improvements in patient resilience, family wellbeing, and community health indicators, it could inspire similar collaborations in other states, contributing to Nigeria's broader goals of universal health coverage and sustainable development.
At the heart of this partnership is a profound recognition that mental health is inseparable from physical health. Both organizations acknowledge that integrating evidence-based mental health support into primary, secondary, and tertiary hospital services particularly at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) in Ituku-Ozalla will dramatically improve patient outcomes, reduce caregiver burnout, alleviate strain on healthcare workers, and elevate the overall quality of healthcare delivery.
Mental health continues to be critically underserved in Nigeria, where stigma, limited resources, and lack of awareness often prevent individuals from seeking or receiving timely help. *The UNTH Foundation, long committed to supporting UNTH by facilitating and supporting the provision of quality medical care for underprivileged patients, *is now purposefully expanding its mission to include emotional and psychological wellbeing. By partnering with CALMHAF—a dynamic non-governmental organization specializing in mental health awareness, education, counseling, advocacy for maternal and adolescent mental health, and community-based support—this alliance creates a powerful synergy that addresses health in its fullest sense: physical, mental, and emotional.
During the signing ceremony, Professor Theresa Nwagha, CEO of the UNTH Foundation, radiated enthusiasm as she shared: "I am absolutely thrilled about this transformative partnership and the immense promise it holds for the people of Enugu. By uniting our expertise and resources, we are opening doors to truly integrated care that will profoundly impact lives, build stronger families, and create a more resilient and compassionate community for generations to come."
Rev. Chukwudiebube Nwachukwu, founder and Executive Director of the Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation, spoke with evident passion and hope: "As we step into 2026, I am filled with excitement and optimism, knowing that this powerful collaboration will profoundly enhance holistic wellbeing for everyone—breaking down barriers, offering holistic healing and ensuring that no one in Enugu or beyond has to face mental health challenges alone."
This MOU signing marks not just an administrative milestone, but a profound commitment to redefining healthcare as truly holistic—for the benefit of present and future generations in Enugu and across Nigeria.
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About the Writer:
Mrs Uzoamaka Nwachukwu is the Co-Founder of Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation. She is a highly qualified professional with expertise as a Trained Child Psychologist and Anti-Bullying Instructor, Microbiologist, Grief & Bereavement Counsellor, Depression Counsellor, Emotional Intelligence Life Coach, EMDR and CBT Life Coach, and Mental Health First Aider. Her love for children, passion and knowledge make her a leading voice in mental health advocacy.
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