Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has urged residents of communities hosting newly upgraded primary healthcare centres to take ownership of the facilities and protect them from vandalism, stressing that their sustainability depends on collective responsibility.
The governor made the appeal on Thursday during the commissioning of the Amaokwe Item and Amaegbuato Nkpa Primary Health Centres in Bende Local Government Area. He was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Health, Professor Ogbonnaya Uche.
According to him, the upgraded facilities form part of a broader healthcare reform agenda already delivering functional primary health centres across the area, with about nine currently operational.
Otti warned that while the government has invested heavily in providing modern health infrastructure, communities must now play their part in ensuring the facilities are properly maintained and protected. He cautioned that any act of vandalism or misuse would not be tolerated.
He explained that the new health centres have been equipped with modern medical tools such as ultrasound machines, oxygen units, auto analysers, and laboratory equipment aimed at improving service delivery and patient care.
The governor also noted that qualified nurses have been deployed to the centres to provide round the clock services, while visiting doctors will handle more specialised medical needs when required. He added that the state is also constructing a specialist hospital at Umunnato General Hospital to further strengthen healthcare delivery in the region.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved communities across Abia State.
Speaking on the reforms, the Executive Secretary of the Abia Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Kalu Kalu, said the initiative is focused on reducing preventable deaths among mothers and newborns. He explained that efforts are ongoing to ensure that every ward in the state has a fully functional and well staffed primary healthcare centre.
The Chairman of Bende Local Government Area, Mr Uwabunkeonye Bassey, praised the state government for what he described as unprecedented investment in the health sector. He revealed that 16 primary healthcare centres in the local government area have been approved for upgrade to improve access to medical services.
Community leaders also expressed appreciation for the interventions. The President General of Amaokwe Item Welfare Union, Mr Harrison Okorie, and the Women’s Wing President, Mrs Mercy Kesandu Uko, commended the government for the projects, noting that they would improve access to healthcare and contribute to better life expectancy, especially in rural areas.
