The Abia State Ministry of Health on Thursday, convened the 2026 Joint Annual Review (JAR) Workshop at Sun Heaven Hotel, Umuahia with the state government reaffirming its commitment to building a resilient, technology driven and people centred healthcare system.
The workshop, themed “Abia Health Sector Transformation: Initiatives and Innovations for Improved Healthcare Service Delivery and Sustainable Development,” brought together government officials, development partners, healthcare professionals and other key stakeholders to review the performance of the state’s health sector, assess achievements, identify challenges and develop sustainable strategies for improved healthcare delivery across Abia State.
Speaking during the workshop, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, described the Joint Annual Review as a critical platform for reflection, accountability, peer learning and strategic planning.
He noted that the annual gathering provides stakeholders with the opportunity to evaluate progress against established health indicators, celebrate successes and collectively develop practical solutions to existing challenges.
“This annual gathering has become one of the most important platforms for deliberative reflection, accountability, peer learning and strategic planning. It allows us to review our progress, celebrate our achievements, identify challenges and collectively map strategies towards quality healthcare for every Abian,” Prof. Uche said.
He commended Governor Dr. Alex Otti for providing visionary leadership that has repositioned the state’s healthcare sector through deliberate policy reforms and sustained investments.
He disclosed that the administration has consistently allocated 15 percent of the state’s budget to health, rehabilitated nearly 280 primary healthcare centres and general hospitals, while executing over 300 health sector projects across the state.
Quoting Governor Otti, the Commissioner said, “Only the best healthcare standards are good enough for Abians,” adding that the administration’s reforms have positioned Abia as a national reference point in primary healthcare development, maternal and child health, and health infrastructure renewal.
The Commissioner highlighted significant milestones recorded in maternal and newborn healthcare, routine immunisation, digital health innovation and human resource development.
He revealed that Abia currently has one of the lowest maternal and infant mortality rates in Nigeria, with about 95 percent of deliveries attended by skilled birth attendants.
He also announced that the state is leading a multi-state initiative on the domestication of a Digital Immunisation Registry that will provide every newborn with a unique digital vaccination tracking number. According to him,
“Our goal is to ensure that no woman dies while giving life and no child is denied the opportunity to survive from preventable causes. We are also embracing technology through electronic health records, telemedicine and digital immunisation systems to strengthen healthcare delivery.”
Prof. Uche further disclosed that health insurance enrolment in the state has increased remarkably from about 40,000 to nearly 230,000 beneficiaries, while the government has continued to recruit more healthcare workers and improve their welfare.
He added that plans are underway to establish a sustainable statewide blood donation and transfusion system, as well as strengthen broadband connectivity across healthcare facilities to support telemedicine services.
He urged all stakeholders to sustain collaboration in advancing the state’s health transformation agenda, stressing that the workshop would provide practical solutions for consolidating the gains already achieved.
Earlier in her opening address, the Permanent Secretary, Abia State Ministry of Health, Dr. Ifeyinwa Blossom Uma-Kalu, described the health of the people as the foundation for the development and prosperity of any society.
She noted that under the visionary leadership of Governor Dr. Alex Otti, Abia State has continued to make strategic investments in primary healthcare, health infrastructure, emergency medical services, digital health, workforce development and health financing.
Dr Uma-Kalu described the theme of the workshop as timely and relevant, urging participants to strengthen partnerships, embrace innovation and develop practical strategies that would accelerate the state’s journey towards Universal Health Coverage and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
She also encouraged participants to actively contribute to deliberations, stressing that the success of the health transformation agenda depends on collective commitment and collaboration.
In their goodwill messages, the Executive Secretary of the Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Kalu Ulu Kalu; the Lead, CARRITAS Nigeria, Dr. Emeka Amuta; the representative of the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chidiimma Ijebu; the Chairperson of the Health Authority Secretaries in Abia State, Mrs. Ngozi Eke, and other stakeholders commended Governor Dr. Alex Otti for his remarkable investments in the health sector, particularly the renovation and functionalisation of primary healthcare centres, recruitment of health workers and ongoing reforms that have significantly improved healthcare delivery across the state.
The speakers described the Joint Annual Review as an important governance, accountability and performance assessment platform that enables stakeholders to evaluate progress, identify implementation gaps and agree on practical actions for improving health service delivery.
They pledged their continued support towards sustaining the gains already recorded and expressed confidence that Abia State is on course to becoming Nigeria’s leading model for quality healthcare delivery.
They also encouraged participants to make meaningful contributions throughout the review sessions to ensure that decisions reached would further strengthen healthcare services and improve the wellbeing of the people of Abia State.
The workshop attracted many government officials and stakeholders in the healthcare sector.
