DEPUTY GOVERNOR EMETU FUNCTIONALISES AMANGWU OHAFIA PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO GRASSROOTS HEALTHCARE DELIVERY

The Deputy Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, FNSE, on Wednesday formally functionalised the Amangwu Ohafia Primary Health Centre under the Project Ekwueme Primary Health Centre Revitalisation Initiative of the administration of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR.

The event, held in Amangwu, Ohafia Local Government Area, marked another milestone in the state government’s systematic effort to restore efficiency, accessibility, and dignity to primary healthcare delivery across Abia State.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Governor described the functionalisation as a bold demonstration of the government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening healthcare at the grassroots.

“Today’s event is not merely a ceremony. It is a bold statement of our government’s unwavering commitment to restoring dignity, efficiency, and accessibility to healthcare delivery at the grassroots,” he stated.

Engr. Emetu emphasised that primary healthcare remains the foundation of a functional health system and reiterated the administration’s resolve to ensure that no community is left behind in accessing essential medical services.

“No community should have to travel long distances for basic medical attention. No mother should lose a child due to preventable conditions. No family should be plunged into hardship because primary care is inaccessible,” the Deputy Governor declared.

He noted that under Project Ekwueme, the state government is transforming Primary Health Centres into well-equipped and properly staffed facilities capable of delivering quality, affordable, and timely healthcare services.

“We are not only upgrading buildings; we are rebuilding trust, restoring hope, and reawakening the spirit of community-centered development,” he added.

The Deputy Governor commended the Honourable Commissioner for Health, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, the Executive Secretary of the Abia State Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the entire Ministry of Health for their dedication in driving the revitalisation initiative.

He also called on the people of Amangwu and Ohafia at large to take ownership of the facility, protect it from vandalism, and utilise it responsibly to ensure its sustainability.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ifenyinwa Blossom Uma Kalu, who represented the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Prof Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, expressed joy over the inclusion of Amangwu in the current phase of functionalised centres. She disclosed that the next phase of the initiative would include fencing of facilities and construction of staff quarters to enhance security and workforce stability.

The Executive Secretary of the Abia State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Kalu Ulu Kalu, described the intervention as part of the broader “New Abia” vision, noting that tangible transformation is underway in the health sector. He urged the community to safeguard the facility and maintain its environment.

In his remarks, the Mayor of Ohafia Local Government Area, Hon. Chief Eleanya Ojuu Kalu, described the project as a landmark achievement that will significantly improve access to basic healthcare services for residents. He commended the Governor and his Deputy for their performance across critical sectors of the state’s economy.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Health Authority Secretary of Ohafia LGA, Mrs. Alaribe Rachael, expressed deep gratitude to God and appreciation to Governor Alex Chioma Otti for the transformation being witnessed in the state’s health sector.

Mrs. Alaribe acknowledged Deputy Governor Emetu as a true son of the soil who has remained deeply connected to his roots and committed to the wellbeing of the people.

She shared an emotional testimony of how the Deputy Governor recently demonstrated compassion and leadership when he encountered an accident victim while returning from Umuahia to Ohafia. According to her, he immediately directed that the injured woman be rushed to hospital for urgent care.

“If not for God who gave us a compassionate Deputy Governor, perhaps we would have lost her. Today, she is receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre,” she recounted.

The functionalisation of the Amangwu Ohafia Primary Health Centre adds to the growing list of revitalised facilities under Project Ekwueme, reinforcing the administration’s pledge to build a healthier, stronger, and more inclusive Abia State.

The ceremony was attended by government officials, including the Member Representing Ohafia South State Constituency, Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke (Etiokwe); the Director General Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA), Elder Engr Obinna Odum; the Mayor of Ohafia LGA, Hon. Eleanya Ojuu Kalu, and his Deputy, Hon. Eme Iro; Members of the 6th Ohafia Legislative Council; the Supervisory Council for Health, Hon. Evangelist Chidinma Ume; traditional leaders, healthcare professionals, community stakeholders, and residents of Amangwu.

Sir Cyril Chukwudi Eke Mba
Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Abia State
March 5, 2026.