REPORTER: PEACE AGBO
Abia State has been ranked first in the 2025 Health Preparedness Emergency index by a Non Governmental Research and strategic communications consulting firm, SBM Intelligence.
Announcing this to Newsmen at the Government House Umuahia, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu attributed the State’s leading performance to the consistent investment in the Health Sector.
According to the Commissioner, Abia’s improved ranking derives from a robust per capita Health spend of N22,962 and the consistent allocation of 15 per cent of the State budget to Health since 2023 by the present administration
The Commissioner further noted that the renovation and upgrading of Primary Healthcare centres (PHCs) across the State was progressing and would be completed before the end of this year.
He also announced that 119,438 Abia residents have enrolled in the State Health Insurance scheme, rising to 217,000 when combined with National enrolees and encouraged more Abians to enroll in order to enjoy unhindered Medical services.
Prince Kanu announced that no resident has died from diseases of Public Health importance in the first 47 weeks of 2025, adding that the State currently has no active cases of Cholera, M-pox, Yellow Fever, Diphtheria or Lassa fever.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Health, Prof Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said the SBM rating was based on credible and globally recognised data sources, including the National Bureau of Statistics, WHO, National Demographic and Health Surveys, Budget, and the Global Data Lab among others.
Professor Uche said Abia’s leap from the bottom ranks to first position marks a historic reversal as it used to be the exclusive reserve of Lagos and Ogun States.
Professor Uche added that direct interventions like the Abia Free Medical Outreach have saved residents billions in healthcare costs, while ongoing PHC renovations would ensure sustainable, grassroots-level access to quality care.
