Otti’s Health Reforms in Abia Target Maternal Deaths

In a significant step towards revitalizing Abia State’s healthcare system, Governor Alex Otti’s administration has announced the functionalisation of two more Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Bende Local Government Area. This brings the total number of operational PHCs under his Project Ekwueme to 42. While celebrating this milestone, the governor also issued a stern warning, disclosing his administration’s plan to arrest traditional birth attendants and those who patronise them. The two seemingly contrasting announcements form part of a unified strategy to overhaul a long-neglected health sector and combat the high maternal mortality rate in the state.

Speaking at the event, Governor Otti, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Oggbonnaya Uche, stated that the programme marks the end of over 24 years of total neglect of the health and welfare of the people. This claim is strongly supported by Dependable NG’s findings, which confirm that Abia’s PHC system has been plagued by severe challenges, including a dire shortage of healthcare workers, poor funding, and dilapidated infrastructure. Decades of poor management and a lack of investment had left most of the facilities in a state of disrepair, forcing residents to seek care from uncertified and often dangerous practitioners. The governor’s Project Ekwueme, a flagship health sector intervention, was conceived as a direct response to these long-standing problems. The project, which has a budget of over N10 billion, aims to renovate and equip 200 PHCs across all 17 Local Government Areas, a move that aligns with the global push to strengthen foundational healthcare delivery and achieve Universal Health Coverage.

The governor’s warning against traditional birth attendants, while seemingly harsh, is directly linked to his administration’s commitment to curbing maternal and infant mortality rates. According to the original snippet, Nigeria contributes 29 per cent of the world’s maternal deaths, a statistic that underscores the urgency of the matter. Governor Otti’s administration argues that a major cause of these preventable deaths is delivery by unskilled workers. By making the renovated PHCs functional with modern equipment, such as multi-parameter monitors, defibrillators, and incubators, the government is providing a safe alternative to traditional birth practices. The threat of arrest is a decisive measure to force a behavioural change and redirect citizens toward these well-equipped facilities. The government is also working on domesticating the Federal Government’s Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative to further support this goal.

The newly functionalised PHCs are not isolated projects but are part of a broader, more ambitious reform agenda. The governor’s administration has also approved the establishment of an Isolation Centre at the popular Uzuakoli Leprosy Centre to manage infectious disease cases, a move that improves the state’s emergency preparedness. Beyond the PHCs, Project Ekwueme also includes the renovation and upgrade of general hospitals and the development of the Abia Medical City, a planned $1.3 billion project aimed at reversing medical tourism and creating thousands of jobs. The administration’s commitment to healthcare is also reflected in its budget, with a significant allocation of 35 per cent of the 2025 budget to both health and education. This multi-pronged approach, which includes the renovation of facilities, the recruitment of new health workers, and the strengthening of the health insurance scheme, is designed to restore public confidence and ensure that every resident of Abia State has access to quality healthcare. The assurance by Ferdinand Ekeoma, a Special Adviser to the Governor, that the community will protect the new facility from vandalism, is a sign that the public is buying into the government’s vision and taking ownership of the projects. It is a testament to the fact that beyond the bricks and mortar, a successful health reform requires the full cooperation and support of the community it serves.