Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Government, has announced plans to recruit skilled attendants for the deaf in public hospitals in the state.
Gov. Alex Otti announced this while declaring open the State’s first ever Council on Health held Wednesday at the Ochendo International Conference Centre, Umuahia.
One of the Keynote Speakers at the November 30, 2023 Ikengaonline monthly town-hall meeting, Miss Chidimma Ajemba, had identified lack of sign language interpreters in hospitals as one of the challenges of Persons Living With Disabilities in the South-East.
Two Disability Rights Activists and Motivational Speakers, David Anyaele, of the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD); and Chidimma Ajemba of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, JONAPWD, Anambra State chapter, were the resource persons on the explosive show transmitted live on radio and other social platforms.
They spoke on the theme: “Stigma, Struggle and Support: Living with Disabilities in the South East.”
Interestingly, Anyaele also doubles as Special Assistant to Governor Alex Otti on People With Disabilities, PWDs.
Otti has already met the Abuja Declaration on Health when he allocated 20% of the 2024 Abia State budget estimate to health.
He has also within the six months of his administration, taken some drastic measures to revive the failing health sector in the state.
The Governor has retrofitted the Abia State Diagnostic Centre Umuahia and Amachara Specialist Hospital.
He has also restored Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, accreditation for the medical college of the Abia State University Uturu, which was lost last year during the tenure of his predecessor.
The Governor has demonstrated commitment in revamping the health sector, promising enhanced welfare package for medical workers in the state to help stop migration of medical professionals.
Otti also promised to renovate all 17 General hospitals across the state.
