By Sunday Nwakanma
The Abia State Government says it has been cleared by the World Bank to benefit from a $250 million health security grant aimed at strengthening disease preparedness, emergency response and healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The development was disclosed on Monday by the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
He attributed the state’s inclusion in the programme to the ongoing reforms in the health sector, noting that the interventions had positioned Abia as one of the beneficiary states under the World Bank-backed initiative.
Kanu said, “Abia State Government has been cleared by the World Bank to benefit from a $250 million grant for health security in the country. The ongoing reforms in the health sector helped to qualify the state as one of the beneficiaries.”
The latest development comes days after Governor Otti assured the World Bank Public Health Finance Team of the state’s readiness to pay the required $200,000 counterpart fund and meet other obligations tied to the programme.
Kanu further disclosed that the Federal Government’s Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport Programme had been domesticated in the state to improve emergency referrals and reduce maternal, neonatal and child mortality.
He also announced that the 2026 edition of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas Medical Mission would commence in the state, with plans to conduct about 1,500 medical consultations and 100 specialised surgeries.
The commissioner added that the state’s health reforms recently received another boost following the visit of a World Bank team to review public finance systems supporting healthcare delivery, particularly at the primary healthcare level. The team reportedly commended the state’s evolving health financing structure and service reforms.
He noted that there were no reported cases of major public health threats such as Lassa fever, mpox, diphtheria, yellow fever or cholera within the period under review.
In the education sector, Kanu revealed that the Abia State Accelerated Basic Education Programme had commenced, giving residents the opportunity to complete the six-year primary school curriculum within three years.
According to him, the programme, being implemented through the Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, is targeted at individuals who missed out on basic education earlier in life, enabling them to obtain their First School Leaving Certificate.
He urged residents to take advantage of the initiative, describing it as a critical step towards improving literacy and expanding access to education across the state.
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
