The Abia State Government has completed the construction of 140 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) under its flagship ‘Project Ekwueme’, with a significant number now awaiting functionalisation.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing Newsmen at Government House, Umuahia, following the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu who explained that “functionalisation” means equipping the Primary Healthcare Centers and making them ready for use, added that 33 PHCs are currently undergoing the functionalization process.
According to the Commissioner, an additional 50 are set to follow which would bring the total number to around 100 before the end of September 2025.
He also announced that two cottage hospitals in Abayi and Umuihe are ready for commissioning, while other secondary healthcare facilities, including the SDG Multi-Purpose Hospital and Cottage Hospital are already operating at full capacity.
He revealed that the Government is preparing two sites for the establishment of disease isolation centres with one at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Aba, and another at Uzuakoli Leprosy Centre, adding that the Abayi Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre currently serve as the State’s flagship isolation facility.
Prince Kanu who assured the public of the State’s health status noted that there are no confirmed cases of public health diseases in the State.
Prince Kanu disclosed that the enrolment in the formal health sector insurance scheme of the State Government has surpassed the expected figure.
“Whereas the enrolment figure for 2025 was put at 1,000 enrollees, that target has been met and surpassed as of 17th August 2025.
“To date, the enrolment figure stands at 107,269, signifying a resounding success rate for the scheme”, he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said the functionalisation of newly renovated PHCs is in full swing.
“We started with 17, now 33 will be functionalised within the next week. Soon, we will begin with Nkwoegwu in Umuahia North, and Ogbodinibe in Umuahia South. Another team will be at Ndawa and Lopkaukwu in Umunneoch”, he explained.
Professor Uche affirmed that EXCO had given a directive to functionalise an additional 50 PHCs by the end of the month.
“So by the end of next month, we will have functionalised 200 Project Ekwueme PHCs,” he said.
The Health Commissioner further revealed that the EXCO had approved the domestication of the Federal Government’s Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative.
He said, “Abia is now one of the states where this project has been vetted. A team from the Federal Ministry of Health worked with our team at Atibere Health Centre last week, and a ceremony was held on Friday.
“This is essentially a series of initiatives to help health workers, mothers, and communities collectively address the causes of high maternal mortality”, he added.
The Health Commissioner also announced plans to establish new general hospitals in Ohanko, Ukwa East, and Umunneochi, with a new facility also planned for Okpualangwa to replace a previously existing hospital adding that ongoing renovations at hospitals in Okeikpe, Ikwuano, and Obingwa were also ongoing.
He highlighted the commendation received by the administration of Governor Otti from medical consultants at their recent national meeting in Enugu, particularly for implementing a new salary scale for health workers and revitalising healthcare infrastructure.
