Governor Alex Otti Flags Off ANPA Medical Mission, Targets Stronger Global Partnerships To Boost Healthcare In Abia
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has officially flagged off a five-day free medical outreach organised by the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas in collaboration with the Abia State Government, holding across Aba and Umuahia.
Declaring the 2026 medical mission open, Governor Otti commended ANPA for returning to the state barely two years after its last outreach, describing the body as a dependable development partner committed to improving healthcare delivery.
He noted that beyond providing free medical services, the initiative also offers critical training and mentorship opportunities for local healthcare professionals, while acknowledging the contributions of volunteer ophthalmologists from across Nigeria supporting the mission.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to healthcare, the Governor stated that improving the wellbeing of citizens remains central to his governance agenda, stressing that infrastructure development must align with enhanced social outcomes.
He further called for a structured, long-term partnership with ANPA, directing the State Ministry of Health to begin formal negotiations toward a comprehensive collaboration framework. According to him, the partnership would span across areas such as telemedicine, remote consultations, and the state’s soon-to-be-launched digital health services platform.
Governor Otti emphasized that the ultimate goal is to improve health indices, particularly for vulnerable populations including pregnant women, nursing mothers, newborns, and infants, adding that quality healthcare is fundamental to economic prosperity and human dignity.
In his remarks, the President of ANPA, Cliff Eke, described the outreach as part of a broader diaspora-driven initiative aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system. He noted that this marks the first time the association is conducting back-to-back missions in the state, attributing it to the Governor’s strong commitment to the health sector.
The Commissioner for Health, Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, disclosed that the mission is expected to deliver at least 1,500 medical consultations and over 100 free surgeries, while urging residents to take advantage of the services.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Medical Mission Committee and Director General of the Abia State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Uloaku Ukaegbu, said the outreach represents a significant step toward equitable healthcare access. She revealed that similar missions in the past year benefitted over 15,000 residents, with more than 300 successful surgeries recorded.
Dr. Ukaegbu added that the programme includes a youth-focused sexual and reproductive health initiative scheduled to take place at Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic.
In a related development, the Chief Executive Officer of Quantus Medical Foundation, Nnenna Ihekorommadu, highlighted plans for the Abia Healthcare Rebirth Initiative, designed to promote compassionate care, accountability, and professional excellence among healthcare workers.
Earlier, the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Health and member representing Ikwuano State Constituency, Hon. Boniface Isienyi, commended the Governor’s strides in the health sector and lauded ANPA for sustaining its support to the state.
The flag-off ceremony attracted key stakeholders in the healthcare sector, including senior government officials and development partners.
