Abia State Government has commenced a pilot Digital Healthcare Programme in select hospitals as part of efforts to migrate from manual to technology-driven medical services across the State.
Governor Otti who disclosed this on Friday night during the February edition of his monthly media interaction with Journalists tagged, “Governor Otti Speaks“, said that the ongoing digital transition in the state is already delivering measurable and positive results.
“In terms of digital health care programmes, we have started a pilot programme in select hospitals. The whole idea is to migrate from manual to digital. It is looking quite good. Our people are happy”, the Governor said.
He recalled that upon assumption of office, his administration declared a state of emergency in critical sectors including Health, Environmental Sanitation and Infrastructure, noting that significant progress had been recorded in the sectors.
Governor Otti revealed that the phase one of the Project Ekwueme Primary Healthcare intervention programme is coming to a close with 200 Primary Health Care Centres retrofitted, rebuilt and remodelled across the State.
“All the 200 primary health care centres are now in place and are retrofitted, rebuilt or remodelled. Some of them have not been functionalised because we insist on minimum standards in terms of equipment and in terms of health care professionals.
“We have given the directive that in the next four to six weeks all of them should be functionalised”, he stated.
The Governor added that recruitment of Healthcare personnel is ongoing to ensure adequate staffing, while the State is also implementing the World Bank-supported IMPACT project.
According to him, 77 additional Primary Healthcare Centres have been rehabilitated under the World Bank scheme, bringing the total to over 270 healthcare facilities once fully operational.
Governor Otti disclosed that the State has engaged Quantus Medical Foundation, a United States-based firm, to train healthcare professionals in line with global best practices.
“We know a lot of them are highly qualified. But then, just like every other thing, the information age makes it compulsory that things continue to change. So we want our people to be updated”, he said.
The Governor revealed that the newly flagged-off General Hospital in Ukwa East Local Government Area; the first secondary healthcare facility in the council since its creation, will serve as a referral centre for Primary Healthcare facilities across the area and strengthen access to quality medical services for residents.
He noted that work is also ongoing in several Secondary and Tertiary Institutions, including the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, as well as specialist hospitals in Amachara and Umunnato.
On infrastructure, Governor Otti said his administration has intensified work across 31 road projects under the Ministry of Works, in addition to projects handled by the Greater Aba Development Agency and the Greater Ohafia Development Agency.
The Governor revealed that approval has been granted for the establishment of an SME Village and Innovation Hub in Aba to support small businesses, particularly in the technology and phone repair value chain, adding that land has already been acquired for the project.
On workers’ welfare, Governor Otti said that payment of leave allowances had commenced and that his administration was addressing outstanding entitlements owed to former elected councillors between 1999 and 2022.
He also confirmed that the State Government has reacquired the moribund Afro Beverages Company from AMCON and is receiving expressions of interest from prospective investors with similar interest shown in the revival of Star Paper Mill.
“So the whole idea for government is to ensure that those companies go back to work and ensure that our people, who hitherto were employed in those places, even if it is not all of them, but others to get jobs in those places.
“It is not our preference to run those companies. We want to cede them to the private sector, not just somebody who has money, but we want to be sure that those companies do not run aground anymore”, he stated.
On the Nsulu Airport project, the Governor said compensation payments to affected landowners has resumed, with over 4,000 out of 10,000 claimants already paid.
“I understand there are close to 10,000 claimants, and at the moment over 4,000 have been paid. So we are taking them step by step.
“We first of all took the people we acquired the proposed runway, which is what is going on now. The construction of the runway is going on very well. So we first of all settled them, and we are now taking them village by village.
“In the spirit of transparency, we had made the Honorable Commissioner for Land to publish the names of claimants to the communities, so there’s nothing that is hidden. Of course, we are not ruling out sharp practices, but we are also very, very ready to deal with anyone that we see.
“I can assure you that everyone who should be compensated will be compensated. Work is going on uninterrupted at the Nsulu Airport project”, he affirmed.
Governor Otti further disclosed that reconstruction of the Enyimba International Hotel, to be managed by Radisson Blu, had commenced, with a total of 250 rooms and an international convention centre planned upon completion.
In the Education sector, the Governor announced progress in the recruitment of 4,000 teachers, revealing that 36,000 applications were received, with 24,000 shortlisted for computer-based tests.
On power, he said efforts were underway to restore electricity to Ohafia and Ukwa East LGAs adding that the State is working towards acquiring a 60% majority stake in the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company to facilitate improved supply.
Addressing security concerns, the Governor maintained that no part of Abia State was under the control of non-state actors and assured residents of security of lives and properties.
“We will continue to do everything that we need to do to ensure that all of you can sleep with your two eyes closed, and I’m happy that results are positive.
“There is no territory that is under the control of non-state actors in Abia State, and there will never be. We have put everything to security. We have professionals who are also supporting us.
“We set up the Security Trust Fund, we set up the Security Advisory Committee, and they are working very hard together with the security agencies, the police, the DSS, Nigerian Army, Navy.
“Everybody is working together to ensure that this place remains safe. And the logic is simple. If this place is not safe, everything we are doing will come to naught”, he declared.
