The Abia State Government has approved the recruitment of an additional 50 nurses, complementing the 500 already engaged under its ongoing Human Resource Programme for the employment of medical personnel across state-owned hospitals.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu noted that the latest approval brings the total number of nurses employed by the current administration to 550.
The Commissioner further revealed that the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme has so far enrolled 157,462 beneficiaries, describing the figure as a significant milestone in the State Government’s drive to expand access to affordable healthcare while providing financial protection for residents.
He also announced progress in the accreditation process of the State College of Nursing Sciences, stating that the institution recently received a visit from the National Board for Technical Education for the accreditation of its National Diploma programme.
According to him, the board commended the State Government for the extensive remodelling of the college’s facilities as well as the quality of its training programmes.
In addition, the Commissioner disclosed that the Abia State Government is collaborating with MedShare, a United States-based organisation, to train local technicians in the repair and maintenance of medical equipment, a move aimed at ensuring the sustainability of healthcare delivery in the state.
He recalled that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently donated an MRI scanner valued at $1.5 million in recognition of the significant transformation within the state’s health sector.
Prince Kanu explained that the equipment, would be installed at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital in Aba, to enhance diagnostic services and complement existing state-of-the-art medical facilities.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Ogbonnaya Uche, announced that the Abia State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with AMPA, will organise a six-day free medical outreach from 12 to 17 April.
Prof Uche stated that two facilities particularly, the Aba General Hospital and Abia Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Umuahia, have been designated for the programme.
He urged residents to take full advantage of the initiative, which will feature the services of highly trained and internationally recognised doctors, surgeons and ophthalmologists.
The Commissioner added that general surgeries and most consultations will take place at Aba General Hospital, while eye care services, including specialised surgeries, will be conducted at the Abia Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre in Umuahia.
He noted that the programme will also include training sessions for healthcare workers to further strengthen the human resource capacity of the state’s health sector.
