Abia govt commences services in more healthcare centres

The Abia State government is making good on its promise to prioritize the health of its citizens. The Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, recently announced the operational launch of two primary healthcare centers in Nkwoegwu and Ogbodinibe, both in Umuahia.

During the event, Professor Uche highlighted the serious challenges the current administration faced upon taking office, noting that over 900 primary healthcare centers were in disrepair. This grim situation, he explained, had put pregnant women and children at significant risk. In response, Governor Alex Otti declared a state of emergency in the health sector. His administration is now focused on building and rehabilitating primary healthcare centers across all 17 local government areas to ensure quality and affordable services are accessible to all residents.

The commitment is evident in the state’s budget, with a significant 15% of the 2024 and 2025 budgets allocated to the health sector. This investment is already showing promising results, with a noticeable increase in residents utilizing government health facilities.

Professor Uche also issued a strong appeal to pregnant women, urging them to patronize state healthcare facilities instead of traditional birth attendants. “We have found that women who deliver with traditional birth attendants often face complications,” he stated. “We want our women to deliver in our facilities, where they will have access to the necessary equipment and professional skills to ensure a safe delivery.”

Also in attendance, the representative for the Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Obinna Aguocha, expressed his confidence that the new facilities would significantly improve the well-being of his constituents.