- Otti says his administration is committed to fully restoring the state-owned primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions to function optimally.
- Promise improved health for the citizens of the state.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has reaffirmed his commitment to improving the health of the people by providing them with access to quality and affordable healthcare. He made this remark on Wednesday while reopening the renovated and rehabilitated Abia State General Hospital in Amachara, near Umuahia.
Otti said that his administration is committed to fully restoring the state-owned primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions to function optimally. He explained that this is to ensure that the citizenry has access to quality healthcare in their various communities, without having to travel outside Abia for medical concerns.
The governor said that the government is focused on reducing the burden of diseases in the state by providing resources for the implementation of appropriate strategies and multi-disciplinary interventions to improve population health.
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He described the rehabilitation of the hospital as a strategic move by the government to restore the confidence of the people in public health institutions. He said that the achievement of improved healthcare delivery in Abia is significant to the overall development agenda of his administration, which is primarily aimed at improving the welfare of the people.
Otti said that a healthy population remains the prime asset of any government, and that under his watch, the health of the citizens will come first and be considered a higher priority.
He also said that the government has instituted a mechanism to ensure that an effective maintenance culture is enthroned in the health sector, especially in the management of health facilities.
In addition, plans are underway to set up a holistic mechanism for sanitising drug distribution in the state. This is to control fake and substandard drugs and guarantee that drugs come into the state from a reliable source, known for standard and effective products.
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Otti said that the government will prioritise the welfare of health personnel by ensuring that their salaries and legitimate entitlements are paid as and when due. He also called for improved relationships between health workers and patients.
The governor said that the government and the leadership of health unions have engaged in discussions on how to come up with better incentives for hard-working health workers. He believes that this will not only reduce the ‘Japa Syndrome’, but also attract healthcare professionals who are currently abroad.
Otti urged various communities in the state to take ownership of any government facilities in their locality to prevent vandalism. He warned that anyone caught vandalising government property would be made to feel the full weight of the law.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, said that the rehabilitation of the hospital is an indication that the reforms in the health sector will produce a better healthcare system in Abia. She said that the people of Abia deserve to receive prompt and efficient healthcare services, and that the government is committed to achieving this goal.