Abia State has emerged the South-East champion in the 2025 Primary Health Leadership Challenge, winning a prize of ₦750 million and ranking among the top six performing States nationwide.
The competition, sponsored by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, UNICEF, the Global Fund and the Aliko Dangote Foundation, is designed to periodically assess and benchmark States’ performance in Primary Healthcare delivery using 13 key PHC system indicators aligned with National and Global Health Frameworks.
Briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the initiative is a peer-review mechanism through which Governors evaluate their respective States’ performance in Primary Healthcare Services.
He described the award as further validation of the reforms and investments of the Otti led administration in the Health Sector and commended the Governor for prioritising Primary Healthcare delivery across the State.
Prince Kanu also disclosed that the 2025 Abia Global Medical Mission, which held between December 15 and 20 across five centres in the State, provided over 3,000 Free Medical treatments, including eye and other surgical procedures, with about 20 patients undergoing major surgeries across the centres.
According to him, the outreach also trained 62 Health Workers in Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, with participants receiving certification from the American Heart Association.
The Commissioner further announced that another Free Medical Outreach, a collaborative initiative between the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and the Abia State Government, would be held between January 7 and 12, 2026.
He said the programme would take place in selected Primary Healthcare Centers across the State and would also feature free training for Abia Health Workers at the Federal Medical Centre Chapel, Umuahia.
On infrastructure development, Prince Kanu revealed that the second phase of Project Ekwueme would commence early next year, following the renovation and retrofitting of 200 selected Primary Healthcare Centers.
The Commissioner noted that the functionalisation of PHCs under the First Phase of the project had recorded over 90 per cent completion.
He explained that the initiative aligns with the State Government’s agenda to renovate, equip and fully functionalise the 948 State-owned Primary Healthcare Centers across Abia.
Prince Kanu added that the State Government has continued to partner with individuals and organisations to deliver quality and affordable Healthcare services, disclosing that a fully built and equipped Primary Healthcare Centre donated by a prominent Abian, Chief James Ume, at Ndi-Okereke Abam, would be formally handed over to the State on December 26, alongside 30 Housing Units for widows in the community.
Ahead of the Festive Season, Prince Kanu urged residents to eat and drink responsibly during the yuletide, observe good hygiene practices, and avoid patronising quacks, fake drug vendors and unauthorised medical dealers.
He also announced that following the formal launch and handover of 20 Mass Transit Buses, the Ministry of Transport was finalising operational details, noting that all requisite infrastructure are being put in place to ensure smooth and efficient service delivery.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Ogbonnaya Uche, said the recognition accorded to Abia State validates the Health Sector reforms being driven by Governor Otti.
He explained that the award was based on clearly defined performance indicators and assured that the Ministry would intensify its efforts to achieve even greater outcomes in the coming year.
