Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has ordered the construction of proper perimeter fences at various government hospitals to secure the facilities against unauthorised access.
He also ordered the immediate restoration of power supplies to all government offices and facilities in the state.
The governor who spoke on Wednesday while receiving a briefing from the Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, 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,” he said.
On the other hand, Okoronkwo also revealed that 4,700 pensioners were enlisted to receive free medical treatment in both the primary and secondary health facilities across the state, under the state’s Health Insurance Scheme
She pointed out that those enrolled were pensioners, who, before their retirement were not above the level of deputy director.
The commissioner also said that her ministry is making efforts aimed at 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 the 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 that she had reached out to some senior government functionaries, who assisted in raising security for some of the facilities, especially the General Hospital at Okpuala Ngwa.
