NEWS
Abia Pays ₦502.1m Health Counterpart Fund, Receives ₦1bn Surgical Equipment Donation
…as Stanbic IBTC, Abia Health Board Partner to Power Aba General Hospital Emergency Unit With Hybrid Solar Power Systems
The Abia State Government has announced a fresh boost to healthcare delivery in the state with the payment of ₦502.1 million as counterpart funding for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), a move expected to strengthen access to essential healthcare services for vulnerable residents.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
According to the Commissioner, the state’s contribution to the healthcare financing programme would help sustain the participation of vulnerable residents in the state’s health insurance scheme, thereby supporting efforts to reduce the financial burden of accessing medical care.
Prince Kanu also announced a significant intervention in the state’s specialist healthcare capacity, revealing that a Swedish organisation had donated surgical equipment valued at approximately ₦1 billion to Abia State.
The donated equipment includes modern medical technology designed to support stroke, brain and spine surgeries, as well as other complex surgical procedures requiring advanced specialist equipment.
The development is expected to enhance the capacity of health facilities in the state to handle complicated medical cases and potentially reduce the need for residents to travel outside Abia for specialised treatment.
In another development, the Commissioner disclosed that Stanbic IBTC is collaborating with the Abia State Health Management Board and the Ministry of Health to provide hybrid solar power systems for the emergency unit of Aba General Hospital.
The solar intervention is expected to strengthen power supply to the emergency unit and support the uninterrupted operation of critical medical equipment and services, particularly during emergencies and periods of power instability.
The three developments — the payment of the BHCPF counterpart funding, the acquisition of advanced surgical equipment and the planned hybrid solar installation, represent additional interventions in the state’s ongoing efforts to improve healthcare financing, infrastructure, specialist services and access to qual
ity medical care.