Ogbonnaya Ikokwu
The Abia State Government has announced plans to host a free medical outreach in collaboration with the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas, with services scheduled to begin on April 13.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof Enoch Uche, disclosed this on Friday in Umuahia during a media briefing ahead of the five-day mission, which will run from April 13 to April 17, 2026.
He said about 25 doctors from the United States would participate in the outreach, providing free surgeries and medical consultations alongside local health professionals.
Uche explained that the initiative followed a directive by Governor Alex Otti to organise another ANPA medical mission after the success of a similar exercise held two years ago.
He said the outreach aligns with the administration’s goal of partnering with Nigerian physicians in the diaspora to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare.
According to him, the programme will officially commence with the arrival of the medical team on April 13, while the opening ceremony will take place at the Michael Okpara Auditorium at noon on April 14, with full medical activities beginning the same day.
The commissioner said two facilities had been designated for the exercise — Aba General Hospital and the Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Umuahia.
He explained that eye-related cases and surgeries would be handled at the Specialist Hospital, while general surgeries would be conducted at Aba General Hospital.
“We have a team of about 25 doctors coming from the U.S., working with our local team to ensure a robust service delivery. They will operate and consult from April 14 to 17,” he said, adding that the state targets at least 1,500 consultations and about 100 surgeries.
Uche noted that the outreach would also include sexual and reproductive health education for youths, as well as training for 80 health workers on basic life support.
He added that the state government had provided logistics and funding support, while ANPA contributed expertise and medical consumables.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Abia State AIDS Control Agency and head of the local organising team, Dr Uloaku Ukaegbu, said preparations for the mission had been ongoing for months to ensure smooth implementation.
She disclosed that free medical screenings and necessary investigations were already underway, including blood provision for patients requiring transfusion before surgery.
Ukaegbu added that the programme would also offer health education and preventive services to young people, including access to sexual and reproductive health information.
The commissioner further announced the launch of the state’s rural emergency medical services, beginning with selected local government areas under the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovations and Initiatives programme.
He said ambulances would be deployed to support efforts aimed at reducing maternal mortality in the state.
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