Abia Govt launches remodeling of 200 PHCs

On Jan 21, 2025

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia, on Monday, has launched the rehabilitation and retrofitting of 200 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) in the state within 100 days.

In a speech at the ceremony held at the Ngwu PHC in Uzuakoli, Bende Local Government Area, Otti said that building an effective healthcare system in Abia remained central to his governance agenda.

He said that the government would “renovate and provide operational infrastructure to the selected 200 PHCs and the project would be executed within 100 days”.

He said that the initiative, tagged “Project Ekwueme”, would be replicated in all the PHCs in the state and would be used to improve access to quality healthcare, especially in the rural communities.

The governor also said that the initiative would help to reduce exposure to quacks, fake drugs and effectively improve good health and longevity for the people.

He further said that the facilities would have independent power supply from renewable energy sources, efficient water supply system, and other support infrastructure.

He said that this would improve the operational environment, preserve drug supplies and medical consumables, and ultimately save cost.

“We are committed to the use of high quality and durable materials for every step of the construction process because this is our own.

“We shall not tolerate any form of mediocrity as every contractor would be required to provide post-delivery infrastructure maintenance services at the facilities for at least five years.

“Community leaders and other stakeholder groups are encouraged to be part of the project monitoring and evaluation efforts.

“All acts of sabotage or attempt to steal from the facilities shall attract very severe consequences by the Government with the cooperation of our people.

“The security agencies have also been mandated to keep their eyes on what goes on across the 200 project sites and use every legitimate tool available to them to frustrate any effort to scuttle our programme,” Otti said.

He said that government was prepared to welcome productive partnerships that help to combat the multiple health threats facing the state’s various demographics.

He also said that there would be training programmes for healthcare professionals to equip them with the evolving trends and new ideas in their operational areas.

Otti expressed the State Government’s resolve to prioritise the transformation of the health sector to improve the socio-economic reality of the citizens.

In a speech, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, described the “project 200 PHCs in 100 days” as a vehicle for delivering democracy dividend.

“This project with a whooping cost of N10.78 billion covers sites that are identifiable when you move around Abia, clearly making the state a healthcare construction site,” Uche said.

He said that the project would contribute to addressing the core objective of the third Sustainable Development Goals.

According to him, the primary objective of the government for embarking on the project focuses on bringing healthcare closer to the people.

Earlier, the Health Officer in Charge of Ngwu PHC, Mrs Ihuoma Kalu, described the project as a dream come true “because the facility had been in a state of disrepair for a long time”.

“I came to this facility on February 8, 2024 and was dismayed by its awful state, the building was nothing to write home about,” Kalu said.

She expressed delight over the imminent renovation of the centre and thanked the government for “changing the story of Ngwu PHC for better”.

NAN/Wumi