By: Imo Thomas -Umuahia.
Abia state government, through the Ministry of Health in partnership with the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, is set to launch the “Sound Intervention Hearing Mission 2025” aimed at providing 1000 hearing aids to Abians with hearing impairments.
This free hearing aid distribution was disclosed by Abia state commissioner for information, Prince Okey Kanu, while briefing newsmen on Monday evening at the Government House Umuahia after this week’s State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
He said that this Laudable program which will be flagged off from April 2nd, 2025, will afford about 1000 Abians with hearing impairments the opportunity to receive hearing aids free of charge, which will definitely improve their hearing faculties and their lives in general.
The commissioner equally disclosed that on the 2nd of April, 2025, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti will also launch the formal sector health insurance scheme in the state.
“Of course, the launch of the program is a milestone event, an achievement by the state Ministry of Health,” Prince Kanu stated.
Lending his voice, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, while restating that the government has approved the launch of the Formal Sector Health Insurance Scheme, added that the
health care outreach to be rolled out is a comprehensive health outreach scheme that will offer direct healthcare services to everyone in the state who needs healthcare intervention.
“And this is going to rotate across all the 17 Local Governments. We are starting with Aba South Local Government.
“After the flag-off on the 2nd of April, which is also the date of the official flag-off of the formal health sector insurance scheme, those who are in that location will receive medical consultations free of charge, and the next day, which is the 3rd, the team now moves to Aba.
He further disclosed that,
“It has come to the knowledge of the government of the rising incidents of noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and such diseases that have very dire consequences on longevity, quality of life, and survival.
“So His Excellency has directed that the Ministry of Health should emphasize health education on lifestyle modifications and ways of living better so that our people will have salient information that they are required to have in making choices that will improve their health outcomes, Prof. Uche stated.
“The Ministry of Health is partnering with Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation. Already, this foundation has donated over 10 thousand hearing aids free of charge to Nigerians and it is very gratifying that they chose Abia State among other competing States.
“Those with hearing impairments should make use of the opportunity to receive attention. FMC Umuahia and Abia Specialist Hospital, Aba Road Umuahia, are venues where beneficiaries are to be registered to undergo necessary tests in the course of the outreach.
“For those in Aba, they should go to ABSUTH, while those in Abia North in Ohafia or Isuikwuato ,where General Hospitals May be far away ,should go to any primary or secondary health care ccenterto enquire and be guided aright. Hearing aids will be distributed free of charge,” Prof. Uche stated.
