With a historic stroke of visionary leadership and policy intervention set to redefine healthcare accessibility in Nigeria’s South-East, Governor Alex Otti has formally launched the Abia State Formal Sector Health Insurance Scheme.

Disclosing this in a statement, Oluebube A Chukwu phD said the transformative initiative is strategically designed to provide sustainable, high-quality, and affordable healthcare services to civil servants and their dependents across the state, marking a defining shift toward universal health coverage.

The well-attended event, held at the prestigious International Conference Centre in Umuahia, also featured the launch of two complementary healthcare programmes: a Free Hearing Aid Distribution initiative and a professionally structured Medical Outreach Programme. Governor Otti, with characteristic eloquence, reiterated his administration’s resolve to eliminate healthcare inequities and build a dynamic health system responsive to the real needs of the people.

“This is not merely a policy announcement,” Governor Otti stated emphatically. “It is a moral commitment to ensure that no Abian is deprived of life-saving medical services due to economic hardship. In the New Abia we are building, access to healthcare must be a fundamental right, not a luxury reserved for a privileged few.”

The contributory health scheme, meticulously designed with actuarial insights, allows employees in the state’s public sector to contribute five percent of their basic salaries toward their health coverage, while the government responsibly covers the remaining portion. To encourage early adoption and build public confidence, the state has approved a phased implementation plan where civil servants will only contribute 2.5 percent within the first six months.

Governor Otti emphasized that the scope of the scheme transcends routine consultations and diagnostics. It includes advanced medical services such as orthopaedic procedures, paediatric care, obstetric and gynaecological support, and emergency surgeries thus alleviating the financial trauma that often accompanies unforeseen health crises among Nigerian families.

By targeting both urban and rural communities, the governor highlighted that the initiative will drastically reduce the culture of self-medication and eliminate the desperation that pushes citizens toward unregulated and often dangerous medical alternatives. “This is a deliberate move to increase demand for qualified healthcare providers in our public health institutions,” he added.

One of the groundbreaking components of the rollout is the reformation of the state’s approach to medical outreaches. Governor Otti made it unequivocally clear that such programmes must now be conducted in authorized, medically safe environments rather than in open fields, school premises, or market squares locations he described as “inappropriate and archaic.”

In tandem with these reforms is the Sound Intervention Hearing Mission, a humanitarian initiative that will distribute premium-grade hearing aids to 1,000 selected individuals across the South-East region. This programme, realized through a partnership with the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, is emblematic of the government’s inclusive vision for healthcare delivery.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Special Guest of Honour at the event, lauded Governor Otti’s foresight and applauded Abia’s emergent role as a trailblazer in health sector reform. “What we are witnessing today is a bold investment in health security a foundational element of any nation’s prosperity,” Obasanjo declared. “With this level of visionary leadership, Nigeria’s healthcare potential can indeed be realized.”

Abia’s Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Uche, described the scheme as a historic leap forward, characterizing it as both innovative and pragmatic. He disclosed that the government had earmarked a substantial take-off fund of N1 billion to facilitate seamless implementation, emphasizing the administration’s seriousness and long-term planning.

Professor Uche explained that the scheme’s contributory structure aligns with global best practices and strengthens the state’s resolve to meet its universal health coverage targets. “This approach promotes shared responsibility and fosters a culture of preventative care,” he said, urging public servants to register promptly and leverage the full benefits of the programme.

Chiedozie Egwuonwu, the Executive Secretary of the Abia State Health Insurance Agency, echoed these sentiments. He said the insurance model reflects Governor Otti’s unwavering commitment to the health and dignity of the Abian workforce. “This is not just about treatment it is about protection, about peace of mind, and about building a resilient population,” Egwuonwu remarked.

Also speaking at the event, Professor Emeritus Basil Ezeanolue of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery delivered a compelling lecture on the prevention of hearing loss. He emphasized the importance of changing societal mindsets, advocating for early intervention and community education to address hearing impairments effectively.

With its comprehensive architecture and far-reaching implications, the Abia health insurance scheme has been widely hailed as a game-changer. By embedding equity, professionalism, and sustainability at its core, the initiative sets a new standard for state-level healthcare systems in Nigeria.

In the words of many participants, Abia is no longer a state that watches from the sidelines. Under Governor Alex Otti’s leadership, it is taking decisive, commendable strides toward becoming a model of what responsive, people-focused governance truly looks like. The game has indeed changed and for the better.