…………Sets To Upgrade Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH).
FIC Report (Abia State) – Abia State Government (ABSG) has granted approval for the formal rollout of the Abia State Insurance Scheme for civil servants in the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this in Government House, Umuahia, while briefing the press after this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti
He said the insurance scheme would enable the civil servants to enjoy medical services from service providers and informed that the government has provided 500 hundred million Naira counterpart funding for the scheme.
Prince Kanu, who said that all the civil servants are supposed to enrol in the scheme, added that the Governor has decided to provide 2.5 percent of the 5 percent required by the workers for registration into the scheme as a way to encourage them enrol in the scheme.
“By this development, all the state civil servants are supposed to enroll in the scheme.
“In his usual compassionate manner, His Excellency has agreed to provide 2.5% contribution needed by the workers to enroll in the scheme for the first three months.
“Usually, they’re supposed to contribute 5 percent from their basic salary every month, but His Excellency has agreed to pay 2.5 percent of that instead of 5 percent to encourage them to enroll in this scheme.” Kanu stated.
The Commissioner informed that the State Government has approved the comprehensive upgrade and remodeling of Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba to a befitting medical institution. He said the upgrade is in line with the governor’s transformation agenda in the health sector.
He also announced that the Abia State Specialist Hospital Umuahia has regained its Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria’s accreditation status for the training of medical interns. He said the accreditation came with an increase in the training quota from 24 to 36 of the interns. He described it as a major milestone in the health sector of the state.
Prince Kanu used the opportunity to announce that the 2024 Cancer Awareness Creation Day for Abia State would be held on Tuesday, 19th November 2024. He said the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Priscila Otti would be the keynote speaker.
According to the Commissioner, the theme for the event is “The Changing Face of The Enemy: Reducing The Rising Prevalence of Cancer in Abia State” He said it would feature advocacy walk, lectures and free screening for cervical and breast cancer as well as HPV vaccination. The first lady and wife of the governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, will be the keynote speaker and guest of honour. He invited everyone to the event, which would be held at the JAAC Secretariat Umuahia.
The Commissioner said that the rehabilitation of the vandalized power installations at the old and new Secretariats at Ogurube Layout has been completed and will be commissioned next week by the Governor. The Commissioner also informed that the groundbreaking of the USAID water project has been rescheduled from the 20th of November to a later date.
The State Information boss said that under the Light-up-Abia Initiative of the state government, the installation of solar lights is ongoing in more than 28 locations across the three senatorial zones of the state. He said the idea is that by the yuletide, almost every part of the state will enjoy solar light at night.
He added that the road infrastructure agenda of the state government would receive a boost by the 25th of November as the governor would flag off the construction of the Ntigha-Mbawsi-Umuala road located at Isiala Ngwa North LGA.
He said the state Ministry of Works has completed four new maintenance projects across the state through direct labour and listed the roads.
Answering questions from newsmen on the Health Insurance Scheme, the Commissioner for Health Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche said that after commencing the contribution, employees of Abia State Government would start accessing the services in 3-months time.
He said that under the scheme, employees of government are entitled to 4 dependants in addition to their spouses, adding that modalities are being worked out to accommodate persons in the informal sector.
The Health Commissioner also announced that Governor Otti has approved funds for the upgrade of the Amachara General Hospital to a world class hospital, pointing out that government is using an integrated approach from the primary to secondary and tertiary health care with a view to making it accessible to citizens especially the vulnerable group.
The Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr. Ikechukwu Monday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity ,Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha were present at the press briefing.
Signed
Abiakam Gloria Ify
HOC, FIC, Umuahia, Abia State.
