Abia State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, has disclosed that no fewer than 4,700 pensioners in have been enrolled to receive free medical treatment in both the primary and secondary health facilities across the State, under the government’s Health Insurance Scheme initiative.
Those so far enrolled are pensioners who, prior to retirement from the civil service, were not above the level of deputy director.
After being briefed by the commissioner, Governor Alex Otti decried a situation where government offices and facilities were left without electricity.
“If there are bills to be paid, we’ll pay them and get the facilities reconnected. We cannot afford to have government offices and facilities without electricity,” the Governor stated.
Dr. Okoronkwo had briefed the governor on the efforts her ministry had made in revamping certain health facilities in the State, especially the general hospitals at Amachara, Okpuala Ngwa, Umunnato and a cottage hospital in Aba.
According to the commissioner, thieves had at different times taken advantage of lack of security and proper illumination in the various facilities to break into the hospitals and cart away equipment and other valuables meant to serve the health needs of the people.
She added, however, that she has reached out to some senior government officials, who assisted in raising security for some of the facilities, especially the General Hospital at Okpuala Ngwa.
The governor subsequently ordered the boosting of security, lighting up of the premises and proper perimeter fencing of the various hospitals to secure the facilities against unauthorised access.