Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has reiterated his dedication to enhancing the health of the people by consciously and deliberately improving access to quality and affordable healthcare in the state.

This commitment was emphasized during the formal reopening of the renovated Abia State General Hospital, Amachara, near Umuahia, on Wednesday.

Governor Otti expressed his administration’s readiness to fully restore the state-owned primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare institutions to operate at their optimal capacity.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that citizens have access to quality healthcare within their communities, reducing the need to travel outside Abia for medical services.

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The governor emphasized that his government was focused on reducing the burden of diseases in the state through appropriate strategies and multidisciplinary interventions aimed at improving population health.

Otti described the hospital’s rehabilitation as a strategic move to restore public confidence in healthcare institutions, stating that improved healthcare delivery was crucial to his administration’s development agenda, primarily aimed at enhancing the welfare of the people.

He highlighted that a healthy population was the government’s prime asset and assured that healthcare would be a top priority during his tenure.

The governor also mentioned plans to establish mechanisms for sanitizing drug distribution and improving the welfare of health personnel to attract professionals currently abroad.

Otti called on communities to take ownership of government facilities to prevent vandalism, warning that those found vandalizing government property would face legal consequences.

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The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, praised the rehabilitation of the hospital as an indication of ongoing reforms that would lead to a better healthcare system in Abia.

Dr. Francis Agu, the Medical Director of the hospital, commended the government’s reforms in the health sector, which had significantly improved healthcare services in the state.

He affirmed the commitment to providing prompt and efficient healthcare services to the people of Abia.