Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, says all his administration has achieved in the last 35 months has been driven primarily by the desire to enhance the social and economic well-being of the people, improve their productive capacity, and effectively usher them into a new era of prosperity free from the indignity of poverty and the misery of helplessness.
Governor Otti, who spoke while formally declaring open the 2026 five-day medical mission organised by the state government in collaboration with the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, thanked the association for boldly identifying with the modest efforts of his administration towards the holistic development of the state through quality healthcare delivery.
The Governor said that his administration is proud to have found a reliable and compassionate partner in ANPA, noting that the association has not only helped to alleviate the burden of health challenges among members of the Abia community but has also provided training and mentorship for hundreds of healthcare professionals in the state.
He noted that the mission will, in addition to offering health and economic relief to several families within and outside the state, expose hardworking medical practitioners to new knowledge and skills that will enhance their professional capacity and overall productivity.
The State Chief Executive said his government is committed to the belief that investment in quality healthcare delivery, through sustained infrastructure development, manpower training, and a robust incentive system, goes beyond merely keeping the population free from the limitations of ill health.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Ogbonnaya Uche, said the medical mission aligns with the healthcare reforms of the state government, which include increased funding, infrastructure upgrades, and digital health innovations.
Professor Uche noted that the reforms introduced by Governor Otti have significantly improved healthcare utilisation, with hospital visits rising from 216,000 in 2023 to over one million in 2025. He added that the medical mission would provide free consultations, specialised surgeries, and health education.
Also speaking, the President of ANPA, Dr. Cliff Eke, described the initiative as part of a diaspora-driven health intervention aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system through collaboration and knowledge exchange. He noted that the mission goes beyond medical outreach to include skills transfer, training, and long-term system support.
While commending the Governor’s strides in health and other sectors of the state economy, Dr. Eke noted that the association is, for the first time, visiting a particular state consecutively, attributing this to the Governor’s sustained investment in providing qualitative and accessible healthcare services.
Earlier in her remarks, the Chairperson of the Medical Mission Committee, Dr. Uloaku Ukaegbu, said the partnership between the state government and ANPA has continued to yield significant results.
She added that the current exercise has already commenced at the Abia Specialist Hospital and Aba General Hospital, where eye care, outpatient services, and specialised surgeries are being provided, alongside a sexual and reproductive health programme for youths.
The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, alongside other top government officials, including heads of health institutions in the state, graced the ceremony.
