Governor Alex Otti has directed that all the internal roads of the Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU) be reconstructed in line with his unwavering commitment to revolutionize the education sector in the state.
The development was made known by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu while briefing Journalists.
Giving highlights on the computer based test for teachers recruitment, he said the CBT was concluded last week while the candidates shortlisted for employment would be invited for oral interview by next week. Announcing the cut of mark as 45 percent, Kanu said the successful candidates would be invited via SMS.
He informed further that the state ministry of health is organizing a medical outreach which would be flagged off by the governor in Umuahia on Wednesday, April 2.
According to him, those who need medical attention would be attended to immediately after the flag off before the medical team heads to Aba General Hospital to continue with the outreach.
Abia Government through the state ministry of health also announced plans to launch the sound intervention hearing aids 2025, tagged “So Nigerians may hear” in collaboration with the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation.
“This laudable programme will afford about 1000 Abians with hearing impairments,the opportunity to receive hearing aids that will definitely improve their hearing faculties and life generally.
“Also on the 2nd of April, His Excellency,Dr Alex Otti OFR will launch the formal sector health insurance scheme in the state.
“Of course the launch of the programme is a milestone event, an achievement by the state Ministry of Health,” Prince Kanu stated.
“And this is going to rotate across all the 17 Local Governments.
We are starting with Aba South Local Government.
Prince Kanu added that in line with the Abia clean up initiative, the government has decided to bring back sanitary inspectors to the state to ensure clean environments and avoid the outbreak of diseases associated with dirty environment.
The Commissioner gave more insight to this state policy.
“The state government understands that a clean environment plays a major role in the overall health and well-being of the citizenry.
“The state government has recorded tremendous achievement in keeping the state clean, especially the streets of Aba and Umuahia that before now were regarded as very dirty, about the dirtiest in country with all the heaps of waste on our streets and public spaces. Well,that now belongs to the past “.
“This achievement is as a result of the deliberate efforts of the state government through the state Ministry of Environment and ASEPA to keep our environment clean .
“The health inspectors will ensure that our environment is clean to prevent the outbreak of diseases associated with very dirty environment,” Prince Kanu explained.
Lending his voice, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche while restating that the government has approved the launch of the Formal Sector Health Insurance Scheme, added that the
health care outreach to be rolled out is a comprehensive health outreach scheme that will offer direct healthcare services to everyone in the state that needs healthcare intervention.
” After the flag-off on the 2nd of April which is also the date of the official flag- off of the formal health sector insurance scheme, those who are in that location will receive medical consultations free of charge and the next day, which is the 3rd , the team now moves to Aba .
“It has come to the knowledge of the government of the rising incidents of non communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer and such diseases that have very dire consequences on longevity, quality of life and survival.
“So His Excellency has directed that the Ministry of Health should emphasize health education on life style modifications and ways of living better so that our people will have salient information that they are required to have in making choices that will improve their health outcomes, Prof. Uche stated.
“The Ministry of Health is partnering with Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation. Already, this foundation has donated over 10 thousand hearing aids free of charge to Nigerians and it is very gratifying that they chose Abia State among other competing States.
“Those with hearing impairments should make use of the opportunity to receive attention. FMC Umuahia and Abia Specialist hospital ,Aba road Umuahia are venues where beneficiaries are to be registered to undergo necessary tests in the course of the outreach .
“For those in Aba, they should go to ABSUTH, while those in Abia North in Ohafia or Isuikwuato where General Hospitals may be far away should go to any primary or secondary health care centre to enquire and be guided aright.
Hearing aids will be distributed free of charge,” Prof. Uche stated.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Uche Emeh Uche and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma were present at the briefing.
