The Chairman of the Abia State House of Assembly Committee on Health and Chief Whip, Hon. Emeka Obioma, has reaffirmed the commitment of the State Assembly to strengthening healthcare institutions across Abia.
He stated this during an oversight visit to the Abia Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Center, Umuahia, where he led other committee members, Hon. Dennis Chinwendu and Hon. Boniface Isienyi, to assess the operations and service delivery capacity of the facility.
Obioma explained that the oversight visit was part of the Committee’s statutory responsibility to ensure accountability, improved service delivery, and alignment with the state’s long-term health sector development goals.
He stressed that findings from the visit would play an important role in shaping legislative interventions aimed at improving the operational efficiency and quality of care in state-owned health institutions.
“We are here to see things for ourselves and to understand the challenges our health workers and institutions are facing,” Hon. Obioma told journalists after the inspection. “This visit will help us provide informed legislative support and reforms that will strengthen this hospital and others across the state. Our duty is to ensure that the people of Abia receive the quality healthcare they deserve.”
The Committee inspected critical departments within the hospital, including the emergency unit, wards, diagnostic laboratories, and administrative sections. During the tour, the lawmakers interacted with the management and staff of the hospital to obtain firsthand insight into their achievements and the areas requiring government attention.
Hon. Obioma emphasized that the State Assembly is committed to sustaining transparency and improving health outcomes through robust oversight functions.
“Oversight is not just a routine; it is a vital tool for accountability and service improvement. We will continue to work closely with the executive to ensure that healthcare institutions are adequately supported and positioned to perform optimally,” he said.
Receiving the team, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Chimezie Okwuonu, welcomed the lawmakers and highlighted the importance of consistent engagement between health managers and policymakers. He noted that the Abia Specialist Hospital remains a key tertiary health facility offering specialist services to residents across the state.
Dr. Okwuonu further commended the stability of the health sector in Abia State, noting that unlike federal health institutions experiencing industrial actions, the state health system has remained stable without strikes. He attributed this progress to the commitment of Gov. Alex Otti, who approved pay parity with federal health workers, extended benefits to health workers at the local government level, and increased the retirement age of healthcare personnel.
He also praised the ongoing retrofitting of 200 Primary Healthcare Centers under Project Ekwueme, describing the intervention as a game changer in reducing morbidity in rural communities and improving the referral system.
The CMD acknowledged the support of the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, for his role in driving continuous improvements in the health sector.
Hon. Obioma assured the hospital management that the Assembly would continue to provide the legislative backing needed to consolidate reforms in the state’s health system.
“Our commitment is unwavering. We will strengthen policies, facilitate budgetary support where necessary, and ensure that our health institutions receive what they need to function effectively,” he said.
The oversight visit, according to observers, underscores the resolve of the Abia State House of Assembly to promote transparency, enhance healthcare delivery, and ensure that public health facilities meet the expectations of citizens.
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