… Partners Obasanjo Foundation To Provide 1,000 Free Hearing Aids For Residents
The Abia State Government has announced plans to launch the Formal Sector Health Insurance Scheme alongside a state-led medical outreach aimed at improving healthcare access for residents.
The dual initiatives, set to be flagged off by Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia on April 2, 2025, is expected to provide critical medical services and financial protection for workers and residents across the State as well as enhance healthcare coverage and accessibility.
The Commissioner for information, Prince Okey Kanu made this known on Monday while briefing Newsmen on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Otti
Prince Kanu described the launch of the Formal Sector Health Insurance Scheme as a milestone achievement by the State Ministry of Health.
He revealed that the Medical Outreach upon it’s flagg off in Umuahia would commence fully at the Aba General Hospital to offer free healthcare services to those in need.
“Immediately after that flag off ceremony in Umuahia, the medical team would attend to the people around here and then head to Aba to continue with the outreach at the Aba General Hospital for the number of days it would last”, Prince Kanu further revealed.
The Commissioner announced a partnership between the Abia State Government and the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation for the Sound Intervention Hearing Mission 2025, themed ‘So Nigerians May Hear’.
He explained that the initiative would “provide 1,000 Abians with hearing impairments access to free hearing aids that would definitely improve their hearing faculties and quality of lives”.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, highlighted the significance of the health initiatives, said it would offer direct services to everyone in the State who needs healthcare intervention.
He said that the medical outreach would cover all 17 Local Government Areas of the State, starting with Aba South LGA.
Prof. Uche who also addressed the growing concerns about non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer, said that Governor Otti has directed the Ministry of Health to incorporate Health Education programs into the outreach.
“It has come to the knowledge of the Government of the rising incidents of non communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer and such diseases that have very dare consequences on longevity, quality of life and survival.
“So His Excellency has directed that the Ministry of Health should include Health Education on life style modifications and ways of living better so that our people will have salient information that they are required to have in making choices that will improve their health outcomes”, he noted
On the Sound Intervention Hearing Mission, Prof. Uche urged residents with hearing impairments to take advantage of the opportunity to be registered and undergo tests so as to be able to benefit from the program.
“The Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation has donated over 10 thousand Hearing Aids free of charge to Nigerians and it is very gratifying that they chose Abia State among other competing States.
“Those with hearing impairments should make use of the opportunity to be given attention at FMC Umuahia, Abia Specialist hospital Aba road to be registered and to undergo some tests to be able to benefit from it .
“For those in Aba, they should go to ABSUTH, those in Abia North , Ohafia or Isuikwuato General Hospital, where these hospitals are far away, go to any Primary or Secondary health care centres to enquire and be guided aright . Hearing aids will be distributed free of charge,” Prof. Uche stated.
