Abia State has been praised for significant improvements in healthcare delivery, following an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services.
Committee Chairman Mr Amos Magaji made the disclosure on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to Governor Alex Otti in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Council Area.
The committee was in Abia to assess the implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and other health initiatives, as part of a nationwide evaluation ahead of a proposed increase in BHCPF allocations from one to two per cent.
Magaji said the committee observed notable progress in healthcare services and urban renewal, describing Abia as a standout success in the sector.
He noted that the state had exceeded the Abuja Declaration by allocating over 15 per cent of its budget to health and revitalising primary and specialist hospitals. Maternal mortality, he added, had fallen dramatically from over 1,000 deaths per 100,000 births in 2016 to 139 in 2025.
“We have visited over 30 states, and Abia is clearly one of the great success stories in the health sector,” Magaji said.
Also Read: Paediatric Association Calls for Urgent Action on Child Health
Governor Otti responded that his administration prioritised giving every resident the highest chance of survival when accessing healthcare and was creating an enabling environment to attract and retain skilled health professionals.
Magaji highlighted that doctors, including a neurosurgeon, were returning from the United States and other countries to work in Abia.
Otti emphasised that the allocation of 15 per cent of the budget to health reflected the government’s view of healthcare as essential social infrastructure rather than a profit-driven enterprise.
Health Commissioner Prof. Enoch Uche explained that the lawmakers were reviewing ongoing reforms and BHCPF utilisation across the state. He said the administration consistently allocated over 15 per cent to health, funding ‘Project Ekwueme’ to renovate 200 primary healthcare centres.
Prof. Uche added that the state health insurance scheme currently has over 185,000 enrollees, targeting 500,000 by year-end and one million by 2027.
Earlier, Assembly Health Committee Chairman Mr Emeka Obioma said the visit was statutory and that Abia’s performance had exceeded expectations.
