Gov Otti’s Health Reforms: Abia Tops Nigeria in Healthcare Affordability, Ranks Among Top Three in Quality

The intentional transformation of the health sector by the Governor Alex Otti-led administration has continued to receive recognition, with an independent assessment by Phillips Consulting’s State Performance Index, SBI, rating Abia as the number one state in the country in healthcare affordability and among the top three in healthcare quality.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who stated this while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti, noted that Abia is the only state that achieved top-three positions in 13 out of 16 indicators of good governance based on citizens’ perceptions.

Prince Kanu said the ranking and recognition of Abia by Phillips Consulting represents an independent validation of the impressive transformation taking place in the state’s health sector.

The Information Commissioner also announced that the State Ministry of Health has piloted a digital tool known as CyTrack to identify and track high-risk pregnancies as part of efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality across the state.

He said the application has been successfully used to track teenage pregnancies and monitor the pregnancies through delivery, with the aim of preventing maternal and child mortality.

The Commissioner noted that the state government has so far functionalised 151 Primary Healthcare Centres, with an additional 25 centres equipped and scheduled to become functional in the coming weeks.

On the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme, Prince Kanu disclosed that the number of enrollees increased from 233,000 on July 27 to 237,000 as of August 7.

He said that, in a bid to strengthen the State Health Insurance Scheme, some communities and groups have indicated interest in partnering with the state government to purchase health insurance for indigent citizens in the informal sector.

Prince Kanu disclosed that the Abiriba Community Improvement Union has committed to sponsoring more than 1,000 persons under the scheme, urging other communities and groups across the state to emulate the initiative.

He further announced that, in line with the ongoing transformation of the health sector, the Abia State Civil Service Commission will recruit more healthcare professionals, noting that 742 medical personnel have so far been employed by the administration.

The Commissioner said the new phase of recruitment will focus on medical officers, dental officers, consultants, full-time consultants and part-time consultants.

He added that the recruitment portal will open tonight and urged qualified and interested candidates to apply.