The Abia State House of Assembly has taken urgent steps to investigate the causes of alleged collapse of healthcare systems and institutions in the State with a view to restoring it for quality healthcare service delivery to Abians.
This resolution came following a matter of urgent public importance raised by member representing Aba South State Constituency, Hon. Obinna Ichitta, during plenary, Wednesday, where he lamented the infrastructural decay and lack of functional healthcare facilities in the health institutions, failed service delivery and loss of accreditation of ABSUTH, the only referral health institution in Abia State.
Responding on the matter, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji, while emphasizing that provision of quality healthcare to abians is a non-negotiable necessity, announced that the Commissioner for Health, the Vice Chancellor, Abia State University Uturu, the Chief Medical Director of Abia State University Teaching Hospital, ABSUTH, the Chairman Medical Union, should appear before the State House of Assembly on Wednesday June 22, 2022 during plenary to explain the state of affairs in these affected institutions.
Earlier, Hon Obinna Ichitta, had explained the insensitivity of the present administration under the leadership of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to health and lives of abians adding that every healthcare institution owned by the government of Abia State has collapsed due to lack of quality medical facilities and poor management.
He pointed out that the only medical school and teaching hospital in the State which ought to serve as a referral place has lost her accreditation from the appropriate body as a result of negligence of government to provide the necessary facilities in place and to put ABSUTH in good condition, non-payment of healthworkers salaries and wages, poor management system among other factors.
The lawmaker further bemoaned that there is no hospital owned by the State Government that could boast of an ordinary defribilator, CT and MRI scan facility etc noting that the only functional hospital in the entire Abia State is the Federal Medical Center, Umuahia which according to him has been overstretched.
He prayed that the authorities concerned in ABSU, ABSUTH, and the Commissioner for Health be invited to the State House of Assembly for hearing and clarifications.
Member representing, Ukwa East State Constituency, Hon. Paul Taribo, the Minority Leader, and member representing Bende North State Constituency, Hon. Chukwu Chijioke, member representing Umuahia South State Constituency, Hon. Jerry Uzosike, supported the motion and called for immediate interface with the concerned authorities following the urgency of health to Abians.
In another development, member representing Isuikwuato State Constituency, Hon. Barr. Emeka Okoroafor, also as a matter of urgent public importance, drew the attention of the State Assembly on the expiration of the tenure of the Sole Administrator of Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ASOPADEC, Chief Emeka Stanley.
According to Barr. Okoroafor, the tenure of the ASOPADEC Sole Administrator was supposed to have expired after 3months of his appointment by the State Governor, but disclosed that Chief Emeka Stanley has stayed extra six months beyond his tenure.
The lawmaker, however, called for his immediate termination of his appointment and for the Governor to reconstitute another board members while an investigation be carried out on the Sole Administrator from the time of his tenure expiration till date which he described as illegal and infraction.
In his ruling, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji, therefore, sets up and Adhoc committee to investigate the matter as presented by the sponsor of the motion, Hon. Barr. Okoroafor and report back to the House in a week time.
Members of the committee are as follows, Rt. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu,(Isiala Ngwa South) as the (Chairman), Hon. Kelechi Onuzuruike, (Umuahia North), Hon. Mike Ukoha (Arochukwu), and Hon. Barr. Emeka Okoroafor, (Isuikwuato).
The House adjourned its sitting to recovene by next week Tuesday, June 21, 2022 for legislative duties.
