Otti Commits to Strengthening Healthcare to Drive Economic Growth as ANPA Medical Mission Commences in Abia

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening healthcare as a driver of economic growth and social wellbeing.

Otti made the remarks at Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, while declaring open the 2026 medical mission of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA)

He stated that his administration’s development agenda is anchored on improving the welfare of the people through deliberate investments in critical sectors, particularly healthcare.

According to him, infrastructure development must translate into real benefits for citizens, noting that “physical infrastructure projects mean nothing if they are not directly connected to our central governance agenda.“

“At the center of our development framework is the holistic welfare of the human population. Everything we have done in the last 35 months, is driven primarily by the hunger to enhance the social and economic experiences of our people,” Otti said.

“We do not make a distinction between health of the people and the prosperity of the economy, for they are one and the same thing.

“Health, as we see it, is also economics because it is tied to the productivity of the population, guides investment decisions, and ultimately promotes long-term household and public sector services.”

The Governor commended ANPA for returning to Abia for another round of medical outreach, describing the organisation as a dependable partner in the state’s healthcare transformation efforts.

He expressed confidence that the medical mission would not only provide immediate medical relief to residents but also strengthen the capacity of local health workers through knowledge transfer and exposure to global best practices.

He also revealed plans to institutionalize collaboration with ANPA through a structured framework that would incorporate telemedicine and digital healthcare solutions.

He expressed optimism that the medical outreach would have a lasting impact on beneficiaries, noting that participants would depart with heartwarming stories of lives saved, joy restored and renewed faith in humanity.

In his remarks, President of ANPA, Dr Cliff Eke, described the initiative as part of diaspora-driven health intervention aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system through collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Dr Eke explained that the mission goes beyond medical outreach to include skills transfer, training and long-term system support, adding that the team has assembled a multidisciplinary group of professionals to deliver services across key areas of medicine.

Contributing, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, said the medical mission aligns with the healthcare reforms of Governor Otti, which include increased funding, infrastructure upgrades and digital health innovations.

Prof Uche noted that the reforms by Governor Otti has significantly improved healthcare utilisation, with a rise in hospital visits across the state in recent years.

He added that the medical outreach would provide free consultations, specialised surgeries and health education, as well as serve as a platform for collaboration, capacity building and strengthening of the state’s healthcare system.

Earlier, Chairperson of the Medical Mission Committee, Dr Uloaku Ukaegbu, noted that the partnership between the Abia State Government and ANPA has continued to yield significant results.

She disclosed that similar missions in the previous year treated over 15,000 residents and recorded more than 300 surgeries.

According to her, the current exercise has already commenced at the Abia Specialist Hospital and Aba General Hospital, and currently providing eye care, outpatient services and specialised surgeries, while also incorporating a sexual and reproductive health programme for youths.