Abia ranks among best states in healthcare delivery, says Federal Ministry of Health

By Peter Okore, Umuahia

The Federal Ministry of Health has rated Abia State among the best-performing states in the country in key healthcare indicators, including maternal and infant mortality reduction, as well as the renovation, retrofitting and functionalisation of primary healthcare centres.

The ministry also noted a significant increase in health insurance enrolment in the state, which rose from 40,000 beneficiaries in December 2024 to 225,581 as of July 2026.

The commendation was contained in the recently released Quarterly Performance Dialogue, a flagship accountability and management programme of the Federal Ministry of Health that brings together federal health authorities, commissioners for health from the 36 states and development partners to review progress, monitor key health indicators and strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide.

Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Umuahia on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting.

According to him, the state’s improved maternal and infant mortality indices are a direct result of the investments made in the health sector by the administration of Governor Alex Otti.

“The remarkable improvement in our maternal and infant mortality profile is a direct outcome of the huge investments made by the administration of Governor Alex Otti in the health sector,” Kanu said.

He explained that under the first phase of Project Ekwueme, the state government is revitalising 200 primary healthcare centres alongside the 77 World Bank-supported PHCs across the state.

Kanu disclosed that 139 PHCs have already been fully functionalised, while 50 are currently being equipped. Another 12 centres are expected to become operational within the next two weeks.

The commissioner further stated that the state’s Digital Health Project is contributing to increased utilisation of public healthcare facilities. He revealed that more than 9,136 patients had been onboarded across nine hospitals in the last three months.

He described the growing patronage of public health institutions as evidence of increasing public confidence in the state’s healthcare reforms.

Kanu also announced that rehabilitation works at the Obingwa General Hospital had reached an advanced stage, with several sections completed and new structures added to the facility.

According to him, the hospital is currently being equipped with modern medical facilities, including digital health and telehealth infrastructure, ahead of its commissioning.

He further disclosed that Abia is spearheading a joint initiative involving Anambra, Delta and Akwa Ibom states to domesticate a digital immunisation tracking system aimed at linking children’s vaccination records with other social data for improved healthcare planning and disease prevention.

The Information Commissioner urged residents to maintain proper food hygiene and safety practices as part of the Ministry of Health’s weekly public health advisory.

“Citizens are advised to adopt good food hygiene and safety practices to prevent contamination of food and drinking water by disease-causing germs,” he said.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said the state’s strong performance was independently verified through the Federal Ministry of Health’s national reporting system.

He attributed the achievement to Governor Otti’s healthcare reforms and strategic investments in the sector.

“The visionary and transformative agenda of His Excellency is beginning to yield visible results. In neonatal mortality, there was also a decline from nine to seven. Once the right investments are made in healthcare, the right outcomes will follow,” Uche said.

He noted that Abia is making significant progress in child healthcare and remains one of four states – alongside Akwa Ibom, Delta and Anambra – driving the implementation of a digital immunisation registry.

According to him, the digital system allows vaccination records to be accessed anywhere using a unique identification code, making it easier to track children’s immunisation status.

“Our children’s vaccine profiles are now digitised. With the assigned code, vaccination records can be retrieved anywhere. This means that when a child is being registered in school, it can easily be verified whether that child has received the required vaccinations,” he explained.

Uche added that the immunisation database has been integrated with the state’s geospatial mapping system to improve planning and healthcare interventions.

The Health Commissioner also advised residents to observe strict food safety measures to prevent foodborne diseases.

“Common symptoms include stomach upset, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and other related illnesses. Maintaining proper food hygiene remains essential to preventing these conditions,” he said.