Abia State Government is deepening international collaboration in the health sector through strategic partnerships with world-class hospitals in Sweden and other global health institutions to deliver quality healthcare services to Abians.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday at Government House, Umuahia, while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti, OFR.
According to him, several medical outreach programmes are lined up under these collaborations, including:
- ProHealth International Outreach, scheduled for November 16–22, 2025;
- Abia Diaspora Medical Outreach Group, from December 12–19, 2025;
- AMPA Abia Medical Outreach, slated for April 2026; and
- The Abia–Swedish Global Health Outreach, coming up in May 2026.
Prince Kanu said these initiatives are part of the Governor’s comprehensive health reform agenda aimed at revitalising the health system, strengthening service delivery, and bringing advanced medical care closer to the people.
Highlighting the progress in infrastructure, the Information Commissioner announced that the functionalisation of the second batch of 52 renovated and equipped Primary Health Centres (PHCs) is ongoing across the state.
“This brings the total number of functionalised PHCs to 102, while the remaining 98 will be fully renovated and equipped before the end of the year,” he stated.
He further revealed that 50 or more out of the 79 World Bank Impact PHCs will also be completed and made functional by year-end, expressing optimism that by December 2025, over 250 PHCs would be operational for use by Abians..
In another major stride, the State Executive Council approved the implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for Local Government workers in the state.
Prince Kanu described the move as part of ongoing civil service reforms designed to enhance workers’ welfare and motivation.
“This commendable step makes Abia one of the few states in Nigeria paying the Federal Government’s Consolidated Health Salary Structure,” he affirmed.
The Commissioner also announced that the recruitment portal for health workers has been reopened, with vacancies available for ophthalmologists, medical officers, dental officers, and both part-time and full-time consultants.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, noted that about 500 nurses are already undergoing documentation after being recruited through a transparent process, adding that the approval of CONHESS has eliminated all forms of dichotomy among health workers in the state.
Prince Kanu also informed that the construction of three specialist hospitals is ongoing, with their designs reviewed to meet world-class standards. He further revealed that Governor Otti has directed the immediate operationalisation of the solar power project at the SDG Hospital, Ugwunagbo, ensuring uninterrupted 24-hour power supply for patients and staff.
He added that the Light Up Abia initiative is progressing steadily, with a 300 kVA–0.35 kVA transformer substation under installation and the 33 kVA line routing from Ihechiowa to Asaga, Ohafia (27.69 km) currently under survey.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to accountability, Prince Kanu stressed that all lands acquired by the government would strictly be used for the projects for which they were designated.
