Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Despite glowing commendation from the World Bank over sweeping reforms in Abia’s health sector, concerns about low public confidence and poor utilisation of government health facilities have emerged as critical challenges that could undermine the state’s progress.
This concern was raised by Governor Alex Otti during a meeting with a World Bank delegation led by Senior Health Specialist, Dr Olumide Okunola, who visited the state on a Public Financial Management Mission.
While the delegation praised Abia’s “extraordinary” strides—highlighting investments in primary healthcare infrastructure, workforce expansion, and improved remuneration—Governor Otti pointed to a deeper issue: years of systemic neglect have eroded public trust in government-run facilities.
“People are not used to functional primary healthcare centres,” the governor said.
“Many still turn to unqualified providers, sometimes with fatal consequences. Rebuilding confidence is now as important as rebuilding infrastructure.”
The World Bank team, which spent three days assessing financial systems supporting healthcare delivery, had earlier identified Abia as a standout example of reform, noting that its model could serve as a reference point for other states.
However, the governor’s remarks underscore that beyond infrastructure and funding, behavioural change and public perception remain key hurdles.
Otti also revealed that his administration is prioritising long-term sustainability through strategic budget allocations—15 per cent to health and 20 per cent to education—while pursuing the rehabilitation of 200 primary healthcare centres across the state.
Yet, analysts say the success of these interventions will depend largely on whether citizens begin to trust and utilise the upgraded facilities.
The state government is now turning to digital integration and system-wide reforms to improve service delivery and transparency, in a bid to bridge the gap between investment and impact.
Meanwhile, the World Bank reaffirmed its commitment to continued partnership with Abia, expressing readiness to support the state’s reform agenda as long as momentum is sustained.
The development highlights a critical paradox: while Abia is gaining national and international recognition for its health sector reforms, the ultimate test lies in winning back the confidence of its own people.
