WHERE ARE GOVERNOR OTTI'S N2.9BN HOSPITALS?

Governor Otti started well in the health sector by repainting & re-equipping the Abia State Diagnostic Centre Umuahia. He went on to carry out the same exercise on the long-abandoned Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba (ABSUTH). Before recovering the hospitals, he launched a free medical outreach in July 2023.

REHABILITATION OF HOSPITALS

As shown in the graph below created from data from Abia Government published quarterly budget implementation reports, Governor Otti spent a total of N2.9bn on capital projects under the Ministry of Health, between the 9 months of July 2023 and March 2024. Out of this sum, N875m was used to repaint and re-equip the Diagnostic Centre and ABUSTH; although analysts believe that the cost of remedial works on the two hospitals are on the very high side, considering the work done. There are no reports of any of the state's dilapidated General Hospitals & Health Centres, rehabilitated during the period.

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HOSPITALS

The budget performance reports also showed that Governor Otti spent N1.07bn on the construction of new hospitals; however, questions have risen from many quarters regarding the location of the new hospitals, and other unknown capital projects that cost Abians up to N1bn between July 2023 and May 2024. There are no announcements or reports from the government regarding any new hospitals completed.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

As shown in the graph below, Governor Otti spent N3bn in Research & Development between July 2023 & March 2024. Many Abians continue to ask questions about the details of the research project the government completed with such a huge sum, as there has been no research outcome or improvement in the state's health management system in terms of digitalisation, and overall efficiency of the health system.   

CAPITAL PROJECTS  - GOVERNOR OTTI'S OFFICE

The budget performance reports also showed that a total sum of N772.8m was spent on medical expenses in the Governor's office during the same period. The funds were spent for the purchase of medical equipment, drugs/medical supplies and local medical expenses as presented on the graph below. 

PERSONNEL & OVERHEAD COSTS

Governor Otti spent the sum of N2.80bn on personnel costs during the 9 months under review. While it is refreshing to see that health workers are now paid their wages regularly, their wages and allowances have remained below the national average, as Governor Otti's government is yet to implement wage awards which other states had given to their workers.

There has equally not been any advertisement for employment of health workers into the state’s health institutions since Governor Otti came to power, and no training or capacity building programmes was organized by the government for health workers despite a spend of 3bn in capacity building the government during the period.

HEALTH OUTCOMES

Despite a total spend of about N6.52bn on the health sector in 9 months, plus N6bn on research, development and capacity building, there was no major improvement in Abia’s health system, infrastructure and indices in his first year, even till date.

There was no reduction in infant, maternal, or adult mortality rates, no increase in the patronage of government hospitals, no improvement in the health delivery system, no accident & emergency systems/units, no ambulance services, no innovations, and no change in the welfare & motivation of health workers.

No attempt was made to modernise the health delivery system. No effort was put into digitalization of health data. No reforms took place in the Ministry of Health and the Health Management Board. No new hospitals were built despite several billions of Naira spent on the construction of new hospitals since July 2023, and none is ongoing at the time of this review.

It is not clear if the two recovered hospitals are now fully functional, as patients have been referred to private hospitals  in the state from the 2 hospitals in recent times. It is also not clear if the free medical outreach was successful. Till date, most of the state-owned general hospitals and health centres are still in unusable condition, just like Okpuala-Ngwa General Hospital pictured below.

What did Abians gain from almost N10bn spend on the health sector by Governor Alex C. Otti?