Abia govt, partner to redirect healthcare culture in state

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

The Abia State government said it is partnering with a non-governmental organization, Quantus Medical Foundation, to redirect healthcare culture in the state.

Governor Alex Otti disclosed this in Umuahia, Abia State while declaring open a week long training programme of health workers in the state by the Foundation.

“We are proud to have found a team of reliable development partners who have not only come to lift the burden of difficult health limitations for several members of our community, but to offer hands-on training and mentorship for hundreds of healthcare professionals working here.

“The body of ophthalmologists from our sister State here in Nigeria, who have also joined this mission to attend to the higher healthcare needs of our people.

The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to prioritising healthcare, saying that his policies have always been driven by the hunger to enhance the social and economic experiences of the people, and emphasised that infrastructure development must align with the broader governance agenda of improving citizens’ wellbeing.

The Governor noted that the overarching goal remains improving the health and wellbeing of Abians, especially vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, nursing mothers, newborns, and infants.

The Chief Executive Officer of Quantus Medical Foundation, Dr. Nnenna Ihekorommadu highlighted the forthcoming Abia Healthcare Rebirth Initiative, aimed at promoting compassionate care, accountability, and excellence in healthcare delivery across the State.

She noted that the initiative would complement ongoing efforts by strengthening the capacity of healthcare workers through training and value reorientation.

Dr. Ihekoromadu said healthcare transformation is not a technical exercise, but a calling, adding that her Foundation has remained the most compelling voice for healthcare culture change in the country.

The US-based, Abia-born medical doctor was of the view that “no patient should ever be turned away in an emergency, and no healthcare system can truly improve unless it is built on Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence.

Driving home what the Foundation is doing, Dr. Ihekoromadu said, “At the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), we have led transformation activities through the WeCare Nigeria platform, including leadership forums, compassionate care training, emergency response support, workforce assessment, and the deployment of the Patient Liaison Officer (PLO) model alongside a real-time digital dashboard for patient-flow and accountability.

“The initiative targets frontline workforce strengthening, patient-centered care, digital accountability, and healthcare transformation across primary and hospital care settings.”

 Dr. Ihekoromadu said the future of healthcare in Africa will not be changed by technology and infrastructure alone, but by leaders willing to confront culture, restore dignity, and insist on accountability.