The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: Healthcare

  • Otti Seeks Stronger Partnerships to Improve Abia Healthcare

    Otti Seeks Stronger Partnerships to Improve Abia Healthcare

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has called for stronger collaboration between the state government, federal tertiary hospitals and other medical institutions to improve healthcare delivery and advance the proposed Abia Medical City.

    Otti made the call while addressing the 115th quarterly meeting of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Ikechukwu Emetu, described healthcare as a key driver of human development and economic growth.

    He said his administration had demonstrated its commitment to the sector by allocating 15 per cent of the state’s 2026 budget to healthcare.

    According to him, the government has also recruited hundreds of healthcare professionals and commenced the rehabilitation of primary healthcare centres across the state through Project EQUIP and other interventions.

    Otti said the proposed Abia Medical City was designed to go beyond conventional hospital services, describing it as an integrated healthcare ecosystem that would bring together specialised medical services, research, diagnostics, pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical technology and other related services.

    He therefore urged medical institutions and other stakeholders to partner with the state government to turn the vision into reality.

    The governor said such partnerships would help strengthen the state’s healthcare system while creating opportunities for innovation, investment and improved access to specialised medical services.

    Also speaking, the Secretary to the Abia State Government, Dr Emmanuel Meribole, commended the administration for what he described as progress in the health sector.

    Meribole also highlighted the increasing collaboration between the state government and the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.

    The Chairman of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria and Chief Medical Director of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Prof. Sa’ad Ahmed, expressed appreciation for the cooperation between the state government and the health institutions in Abia.

    Meanwhile, the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Prof. Azubuike Onyebuchi, disclosed that the state government was constructing a 20-room VIP ward at the medical centre.

    The development is part of the ongoing efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure and strengthen medical services in the state.

  • GEANCO Launches Primecare Nursing Practice Program to Strengthen Nurse-Led Clinics in Nigeria

    GEANCO Launches Primecare Nursing Practice Program to Strengthen Nurse-Led Clinics in Nigeria

    The GEANCO Foundation has launched the Primecare Nursing Practice Programme, a new initiative designed to strengthen nurse-led clinics and improve access to quality healthcare in underserved communities across Nigeria.

    The programme was unveiled on Saturday, June 27, 2026, in Enugu during a ceremony attended by government officials, healthcare professionals and academic leaders.

    According to the foundation, the initiative builds on the success of its six modular family health centres, which currently serve more than 9,000 families, and seeks to expand affordable healthcare by empowering registered nurses and midwives who operate private clinics.

    Participants will receive training in key areas, including obstetrics, paediatrics, geriatrics, mental health, basic life support, telehealth, organisational management and financial management for healthcare entrepreneurs.

    GEANCO said the programme combines intensive training, clinic support and post-training mentorship to improve clinical standards and strengthen the sustainability of nurse-owned healthcare facilities.

    A major feature of the initiative is the Primecare mobile application, which offers educational resources, AI-powered clinical decision support and a digital platform connecting nurses with medical professionals for continuous learning and collaboration.

    Speaking on behalf of Prof. George Ugwu, the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ifeyinwa Ugwueze said the programme aligns with the state’s commitment to decentralising quality healthcare services.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the University on the Niger, Prof. Nebo Ositadimma, formally unveiled the initiative, describing it as an innovative intervention in primary healthcare delivery.

    Other speakers, including Prof. Kenechukwu Iloh of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Dr. Winnifred Onodu of Maduka University and healthcare entrepreneur Dr. Charity Ibeh, commended the programme for its focus on improving maternal and child healthcare, enhancing nursing practice and promoting entrepreneurship among healthcare providers.

    The foundation said the initiative is expected to strengthen primary healthcare delivery by equipping nurse-entrepreneurs with the skills, technology and support needed to provide affordable and sustainable healthcare services across underserved communities.

    The GEANCO Foundation is dedicated to saving and transforming lives in Africa. Through corporate partnerships, innovative medical missions, and targeted educational programs, GEANCO provides underserved communities with the critical primary healthcare infrastructure and learning tools necessary to thrive.