DEVELOPMENT
Abia Health Sector Gets Major Boost as Otti-led Administration Employs 649 Medical Workers, Attracts Overseas-Trained Specialists
The Abia State Government (ABSG) has taken a significant step toward strengthening healthcare delivery in the state with the employment of 649 new medical workers out of the proposed 771 personnel approved for the health sector.
The development was disclosed by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
According to Prince Kanu, the large-scale recruitment is part of the administration’s deliberate vision and sustained efforts to reposition the health sector for efficient, accessible, and improved service delivery across Abia State.
He explained that a substantial number of the newly recruited personnel have been strategically deployed to strengthen grassroots healthcare. Out of the 649 employed medical workers, 432 are nurses who have been posted to primary healthcare centres across the state. These facilities, he noted, are currently being equipped and functionalised by the government to ensure effective service delivery at the community level.
Prince Kanu further revealed that the recruitment exercise is still ongoing, as the government plans to fill the shortfall of 122 medical personnel to complete the approved total of 771. He added that even after reaching this figure, the Ministry of Health would remain open to employing additional medical personnel at the state level to meet growing healthcare demands.
In a notable highlight, the Commissioner disclosed that the new intake includes highly skilled specialists whose expertise is rarely available in many sub-national health systems. Among them is a neurosurgeon who previously had the opportunity to work in New York City but chose to return home to serve in Abia State.
Emphasising the significance of this decision, Prince Kanu said the development reflects growing confidence in the Otti-led administration and its reforms in the health sector.
“Among the newly recruited medical personnel are those who have access to work overseas, who have chosen to come and work for the state government. Because of the confidence they have in the leadership style of the Governor and the massive reforms being carried out in the state’s health sector.
“Recently, a neurosurgeon was employed amongst this new set of medical personnel, someone who is an expert in this field and has a very rare speciality in medical practise,” Prince Kanu stated.
The recruitment drive is widely seen as a major milestone in Governor Alex Otti’s agenda to rebuild Abia’s health system, reverse medical brain drain, and ensure that residents have access to quality healthcare services delivered by qualified and motivat
ed professionals.