Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia said on Sunday in Abuja that his administration built 165 health centres in the state in collaboration with the federal government.
The governor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that a modern specialist hospital and a diagnostic centre were built in Umuahia and Aba respectively to complement the services offered by the new health centres.
“In conjunction with the presidency, we’ve been able to build 165 health centres in Abia State scattered all over the local government areas.
“In addition, we have also built a modern specialist hospital and diagnostic centre in Umuahia and Aba to complement the efforts of the general hospitals and the health centres.
“The health centres are there in the villages, the specialist hospitals are there for special cases.’’
Orji said that all the health facilities were established to make health care delivery easily accessible to the people of the state.
NAN reports that the state government has also increased the remuneration and allowances of medical personnel in the state to motivate them to become more dedicated to their jobs.
According to the governor, the state government’s efforts will ensure that the people and workforce in the state are healthier.
“You see you have to be healthy to enjoy dividends of democracy. It is only a healthy man that knows what electricity is and what a bad road means,’’ the governor said.
Abia was created in August 1991 with a total land area of 5,243.7 sq. km.
According to the 2006 census data, the state has a population of 2,845,380. 70 per cent of who reside in the rural areas.
Before now, public health care institutions in the state served the people merely as consulting and prescriptive centres. (NAN)