The Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, has formally declared the Amangwu Ohafia Primary Health Centre open for full operation under the state government’s Project Ekwueme Primary Health Centre Revitalisation Initiative.
Speaking during the functionalisation ceremony on Wednesday in Ohafia Local Government Area, Emetu said the project reflects the administration’s commitment to strengthening primary healthcare delivery and making quality medical services accessible to residents at the grassroots.
He described primary healthcare as the foundation of an effective health system, noting that the revitalised facility will provide affordable and timely services to mothers, children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups within the community.
According to him, the Project Ekwueme initiative, introduced by Governor Alex Chioma Otti, forms part of a broader strategy to upgrade, equip, and properly staff primary health centres across the state. He explained that the programme is designed to improve service delivery standards and restore public confidence in government-owned health institutions.
Emetu stressed that no community should be forced to travel long distances to access basic medical care, noting that accessible primary healthcare is critical to reducing preventable deaths and improving overall wellbeing.
He commended the Commissioner for Health, the Permanent Secretary, the Executive Secretary of the Primary Health Care Development Agency, and other officials of the Ministry of Health for their roles in driving the revitalisation process. He also charged healthcare workers posted to the facility to uphold professionalism and deliver compassionate care.
The Deputy Governor further urged residents of Amangwu and the wider Ohafia community to take ownership of the centre, protect it from vandalism, and make effective use of its services.
In their goodwill messages, the Mayor of Ohafia LGA, Chief Eleanya Ojuu Kalu, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Ifenyinwa Uma Kalu, commended the state government for refurbishing and functionalising health centres across various local government areas, noting that Amangwu and Ihenta communities are among the beneficiaries.
They noted that the upgraded facility would significantly improve access to quality healthcare, particularly for women and children, and appealed to residents to safeguard the centre to ensure its sustainability.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Abia State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Kalu Ulu Kalu, alongside the Secretary of the Health Authority, Mrs. Rachael, expressed satisfaction with the execution of the project and assured residents that more developmental initiatives are underway across the state.
The event featured the formal declaration of the Amangwu Ohafia Primary Health Centre as fully operational, followed by an inspection tour of the facility by the Deputy Governor and other government officials.
