Abia State Government has begun the implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for Local Government Health workers with the payment of their February salaries.
The initiative, aimed at boosting morale and improving the welfare of health workers in Abia State’s Health Sector, was approved by Governor Otti, bringing an end to a 12-year struggle by the workers.
The initiative also aligns the salaries of Local Government Health Staff with those of their counterparts at the State and Federal levels.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
The Commissioner noted that with the implementation, Abia has become the first in the South-East region to achieve the milestone.
He further explained that the measure was designed to retain skilled professionals in the Health sector.
“This is part of the ongoing reforms in the health sector of the State. This is part of the ongoing reforms in the health sector of the State.
“Abia State happens to be the first State in the Southeast region of the country that achieved this milestone.
“It is meant to retain our best hands in the health sector of the State”, Prince Kanu stated.
According to him, the State Government’s digital health reforms are also yielding results, particularly through the ongoing e-health programme across Primary Healthcare Centres in the State.
The Commissioner further revealed that utilisation of the State Government’s health facilities has increased tremendously under the current administration and attributed the development to ongoing reforms in the sector.
“The hospital utilisation in Abia State under this administration has improved tremendously by five times between 2023 and 2025. In terms of figures, this has improved from 214,407 in 2023 to 1,533,764 in 2025.
“This means that more adults have confidence to use the State’s Health facilities in 2025 than was the case in 2023”, he added.
Prince Kanu also disclosed that construction has commenced on the Ukwa East General Hospital located at Ohanku Ndoki in Ukwa East Local Government Area, adding that the project had a completion timeline of nine months.
The Commissioner expressed optimism that the Hospital would be ready for commissioning by December.
He announced that the Abia State Government, in collaboration with AMPA, would organise a free medical outreach from April 11 to April 17, 2026, in Aba and Umuahia.
According to Prince Kanu, the outreach will offer free medical consultations, general surgeries, eye care surgeries, as well as training for health workers.
The Commissioner also revealed that the State Ministry of Health is collaborating with the Jimmy Carter Foundation to conduct free heart and cell surgeries for selected patients adding that about 74 patients have been identified to undergo surgeries.
He noted that the procedures would take place at Aba General Hospital, Abia State Specialist Hospital Umuahia and Nkporo Cottage Hospital and urged residents to take full advantage of the Programme.
Prince Kanu also disclosed that the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) has secured full accreditation from the West African Community of Physicians to train doctors in Community Medicine for five years.
While noting that the development reflects the significant improvements recorded at the institution, the Commissioner added that the hospital had previously lost several accreditations before the present administration intervened.
“This accreditation will last for a period of five years. Of course, it speaks to what that health facility has turned out to be. Because when this government came into office, this administration at inception met that hospital at a very sorry State.
“They had lost their accreditation. And one of the first things this government did was to get that accreditation back for many of their courses and today, we are all singing a different song”, he said.
Prince Kanu also assured residents that the State is vigilant against infectious diseases, particularly Lassa fever which had broken out in some parts of the country.
He added that the Otti led Government has intensified surveillance across the State to prevent any outbreak.
“Lassa fever, which has broken out in some parts of the country, has not got into our State. I want to announce that this outbreak has not been noticed here.
“And the State is working seriously to ensure that all other towns related to the State are kept under surveillance”, Prince Kanu said.
