…Obasanjo to inaugurate 45-km road
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Government has announced the re-introduction of sanitary inspectors in the state.
This is as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is billed for the state on April 2nd to inaugurate a 45-kilometer Uzuakoli-Akars-Alayi-Abiriba Road reconstructed by Gov. Alex Otti.
Commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu, who disclosed this during a press briefing in Umuahia, said it was in line with Abia State clean-up initiative aimed at making Abia one of the cleanest states.
He said: “The state government understands that a clean environment plays a major role in the overall health and well-being of the citizenry.
“The state government has recorded tremendous achievement in keeping the state clean, especially the streets of Aba and Umuahia that before now were regarded as very dirty, about the dirtiest in country with all the heaps of waste on our streets and public spaces. Well, that now belongs to the past.”
“This achievement is as a result of the deliberate efforts of the state government through the state Ministry of Environment and ASEPA to keep our environment clean
“The health inspectors will ensure that our environment is clean to prevent the outbreak of diseases associated with very dirty environment,” Prince Kanu explained.
Prince Kanu disclosed that the government through the Ministry of Health is organising a state-led medical out reach that will be flagged off by Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia, on the 2nd of April 2025.
According to him, immediately after that flag-off ceremony in Umuahia, the team will attend to the people around there before moving to Aba the next day, where the team would commence the medical outreach, particularly, at the Aba General Hospital.
In another development, the Commissioner said that the state government through the state Ministry of Health in partnership with the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation will launch the sound intervention hearing mission 2025 christined “So Nigerians May Hear.”
“This laudable programme will afford about 1000 Abians with hearing impairments, the opportunity to receive hearing aids that will definitely improve their hearing faculties and life generally.
“Also on the 2nd of April, His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, will launch the formal sector health insurance scheme in the state.
“Of course the launch of the programme is a milestone event, an achievement by the state Ministry of Health,” Prince Kanu stated.
Lending his voice, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche while restating that the government has approved the launch of the Formal Sector Health Insurance Scheme, added that the health care outreach to be rolled out is a comprehensive health outreach scheme that will offer direct healthcare services to everyone in the state that needs healthcare intervention.
“And this is going to rotate across all the 17 Local Governments. We are starting with Aba South Local Government.
“After the flag-off on the 2nd of April which is also the date of the official flag- off of the formal health sector insurance scheme, those who are in that location will receive medical consultations free of charge and the next day, which is the 3rd, the team now moves to Aba.
He further disclosed that: “It has come to the knowledge of the government of the rising incidents of non communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer and such diseases that have very dire consequences on longevity, quality of life and survival.
“So His Excellency has directed that the Ministry of Health should emphasise health education on life style modifications and ways of living better so that our people will have salient information that they are required to have in making choices that will improve their health outcomes, Prof. Uche stated.
“The Ministry of Health is partnering with Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation. Already, this foundation has donated over 10 thousand hearing aids free of charge to Nigerians and it is very gratifying that they chose Abia State among other competing States.
“Those with hearing impairments should make use of the opportunity to receive attention. FMC Umuahia and Abia Specialist hospital ,Aba road Umuahia are venues where beneficiaries are to be registered to undergo necessary tests in the course of the outreach .
“For those in Aba, they should go to ABSUTH, while those in Abia North in Ohafia or Isuikwuato where General Hospitals May be far away should go to any primary or secondary health care centre to enquire and be guided aright . Hearing aids will be distributed free of charge,” Prof. Uche stated.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Uche Emeh Uche and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma were present at the briefing.
