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The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti has offered to cover the medical expenses of 30 Abia residents who are in urgent need of surgery for various ailments while finalizing plans for a Medical Village in the state.
This is coming on the heels of the conclusion of a six-month-long free medical treatment for residents across the state which was sponsored by the government.
Otti made the commitment following an appeal by a visiting Bulgarian non-governmental organization, Revive, which was on a medical outreach to the state. Otti stated that his administration is committed to ensuring a comprehensive overhaul of the healthcare facilities in the state, including building new ones, to improve the overall well-being of the citizens.
The governor highlighted that his administration is committed to improving healthcare delivery and is concentrating on remodelling and updating medical facilities. He also emphasised the swift actions made to get the medical school and the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, accredited again after they had both lost it more than two years prior.
Otti, who disclosed that the government is currently rehabilitating about 15 General Hospitals across the state, mentioned that his administration is still pushing ahead with plans to establish a ‘Medical Village.’ He believes this initiative would attract medical tourists to Abia and reverse the trend of people traveling to countries like India for their medical needs.
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Governor Otti commended the efforts of the visiting medical team, especially Mr. Smart Oriaku, for single-handedly bringing the Revive team to Abia. Otti stated, “I’m pleased to receive you and commend you for your labor of love. It is interesting that a single individual can do this. If all of us who have been blessed in one way or the other do what you’re doing, I’m sure this place would be a better place for everyone.”
The Revive medical team, led by a Nigerian of Abia origin, Mr. Smart Oriaku, visited the Governor on Friday at the end of their 13-day medical outreach. They thanked him for the support they received from the government and the people of the state while conducting their activities, including consultations, diagnosis, laboratory tests and scans, prescriptions, surgery, among others.
In an address earlier, the leader of the team, Mr. Smart Oriaku, said the medical mission was solely sponsored by his family, the Late Rev. David Ukeje Oriaku family of Okaiuga Nkwoegwu, Umuahia North LGA, in the spirit of giving back to society.
Oriaku mentioned that the team, within the 13 days of their outreach, performed over 700 consultations, conducted over 60 successful surgeries, ranging from Goiter to Hernia, among others. They kept a check on patients to ensure there were no complications.
He noted that all laboratory tests and scans, including CT Scan, Echography, and other laboratory tests recommended by the surgical team, were paid for by his family. Additionally, the medical bills of all women who gave birth at the Okaiuga Nkwoegwu Health center, the venue of the consultation, were covered, along with a ten-thousand-Naira gift to the new mothers.
