The Abia State Government, in collaboration with the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), is set to provide free medical services to no fewer than 1,500 residents as part of a five-day medical outreach programme scheduled to commence in the state.
The initiative, which will run from April 13 to April 17, is aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare services, including consultations and surgeries, for residents across the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, disclosed this at Government House Umuahia on Friday during a press briefing on the planned exercise.
Prof Uche said the outreach aligns with the healthcare vision of Governor Alex Otti, particularly in strengthening partnerships with physicians of Abia origin and other Nigerian medical professionals in the diaspora.
According to him, the programme is part of efforts by the State Government to deepen access to affordable and quality healthcare while advancing the goal of universal health coverage.
“As you may recall, health remains one of the priority sectors under the administration of His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti.
“One of the key mandates in the governor’s 11-point agenda is collaboration with physicians of Nigerian and Abia extraction residing abroad to support the delivery of high-quality and affordable healthcare services to our people”, he said.
The Commissioner explained that the governor had, in 2025, directed the Ministry of Health to work with ANPA to organise the 2026 edition of the outreach, following the success of a similar exercise in 2024.
He said the opening ceremony would hold on April 14 at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, at 12 noon, while clinical services would run from April 14 to April 17 at designated centres, including the Abia General Hospital and the Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre.
Prof Uche listed the services to be offered to include free medical consultations, general surgeries, gynaecological procedures and eye surgeries.
“We are expecting a team of about 25 doctors from the United States, who will work alongside our local medical personnel.
“Our target is to conduct at least 1,500 medical consultations and up to 100 surgeries within the period”, he said.
The Commissioner urged residents with health challenges, especially those requiring surgical procedures such as fibroid operations and other essential interventions, to take advantage of the opportunity.
He further disclosed that specialist ophthalmologists would also carry out free eye surgeries at the eye unit of the Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, and commended the governor for providing the enabling environment and approving funds for logistics and other support services required for the programme.
Prof. Uche said ANPA would contribute medical expertise and consumables, while the State Government would provide operational logistics for the exercise.
He added that the outreach would also feature sexual and reproductive health education for young people, in line with ANPA’s outreach policy, aimed at equipping youths with information for informed life choices.
According to him, another component of the programme would involve the training of 80 health workers on basic life support and emergency response procedures.
“This training is critical in helping frontline health workers manage emergency cases such as cardiac arrest and unconscious patients, especially at peripheral health facilities”, he said.
Prof Uche also announced the commencement of the Abia Healthcare Rebirth Initiative, a programme designed to promote compassionate care, improved medical ethics and enhanced service delivery across the state’s health system.
He reassured residents that free medical consultations remained open to all, including those who had not undergone prior screening for surgical procedures.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Abia ANPA 2026 Medical Outreach, Dr Uloaku Ukaegbu, said all arrangements had been concluded for the exercise.
Dr. Ukaegbu disclosed that over 250 persons had already indicated interest in surgical procedures, adding that the list was currently under review to determine eligible cases.
She said prospective surgical patients would undergo screening and necessary investigations, while blood transfusion support, where required, would be provided free of charge.
