NEWS
Abia Deepens Health Sector Reforms as Gov. Alex Otti Approves U.S. Partnership, Moves to Functionalise 53 PHCs, Records 96% Immunisation Coverage
The Abia State Government has taken another bold step in its sweeping healthcare reform agenda as Governor Alex Otti approved a strategic partnership with the Quantus Medical Foundation, a United States-based medical group led by Dr. Nnenna Ihekoromadu, to train health workers across the State.
The approval, which signals a new phase in the administration’s commitment to capacity building and global best practices in healthcare delivery, was disclosed on Monday at Government House, Umuahia, by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu. He briefed journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by the Governor.
Prince Kanu explained that the collaboration between the State Ministry of Health and the U.S.-based healthcare consultancy outfit is designed to reposition Abia’s health system through institutional reforms and professional retraining of health personnel.
“His Excellency, the Governor has approved the collaboration between the State Ministry of Health and the U.S-based health care consultancy outfit to ensure a healthcare cost of change in the State.
“This is aimed at training health workers to embrace best practises in the delivery of health care,” Prince Kanu stated.
The Commissioner further announced that the Ministry of Health is set to functionalise 53 fully equipped Primary Healthcare Centres under “Project Ekwueme,” a landmark initiative expected to significantly strengthen primary healthcare services across the State. The move is part of a broader strategy to decentralise quality healthcare and ensure that rural and underserved communities have access to modern medical facilities.
In addition, Prince Kanu revealed that the Abia State Q2 Health Pilot Project has commenced in selected hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres across the State.
According to him, the initiative is structured to enhance service delivery standards, improve patient outcomes, and reinforce accountability within the health system.
In what many observers have described as a testament to the growing recognition of Abia’s health sector reforms, the Paediatric Association of Nigeria has scheduled its next Annual General Meeting to hold in Abia State in 2027.
“This is a recognition of the Governor’s agenda in reforming the health sector of the State. The next edition of this Annual General Meeting will hold in 2027,” he noted.
On immunisation efforts, the Commissioner disclosed that the Measles and Rubella vaccination campaign, flagged off on 3 February 2026, has been successfully concluded. He said the State recorded an impressive 96 per cent coverage rate, surpassing the 95 per cent target set for the exercise.
“The campaign took place across all the schools in the state and other social institutions across the state.
“Over 8,000 groups were involved in the exercise. Currently, we are collecting the raw numbers across the State,” Prince Kanu stated.
Responding to questions from journalists, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, affirmed that the partnership with the Quantus Medical Foundation aligns squarely with the Governor’s reform agenda centred on global best practices and systemic transformation.
“These (members Quantus Medical Foundation) are experts that go around to help in health systems by training doctors, nurses, pharmacists, other health workers on how to adopt a culture change that helps them to offer the best services to the people.
“This is meant to ensure that the communications are clear, and that healthcare workers are able to adopt behaviours and skills and match them to be able to give the best healthcare to the people.
“So it is across all levels of healthcare, but it is to be phased. So the first time we’re going to start with doctors and nurses, then we’ll cascade down to those at the local government level. It’s a top-to-down approach,” Prof. Uche stated.
He also used the opportunity to urge parents and guardians to ensure that their children are vaccinated, reassuring residents that vaccines administered in the State are safe and preserved strictly in line with established safety protocols.
With these sweeping measures from international partnerships and capacity development to expanded primary healthcare infrastructure and high immunisation coverage. The Otti administration appears determined to institutionalise a resilient, people-centred healthcare system capable of meeting both present an
d future demands across Abia State.