Posted on: Wed 05-11-2025

The Abia State Government has approved the implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for local government health workers across the state.

 

The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, announced this on Monday in Umuahia while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

 

Kanu said the approval was part of the administration’s ongoing reforms in the state civil service, reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare and service conditions.

 

“This commendable move makes Abia State one of the few states in the country that pay the Federal Government’s Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS),” he stated.

 

The commissioner also disclosed that the state government was making steady progress in revitalising the primary healthcare system, noting that the functionalisation of the second batch of 52 renovated and equipped Primary Health Centres (PHCs) was ongoing across the state.

 

According to him, “This brings the total number of functionalised PHCs to 102. The remaining 98 PHCs will be fully renovated and equipped before the end of the year. In the same vein, 50 or more out of the 79 World Bank Impact PHCs will also be completed within the same period. By the end of the year, a total of 250 PHCs or more would have been fully renovated and equipped for use by Abians.”

 

Kanu added that citizens were increasingly patronising the PHCs, in line with Governor Otti’s vision to strengthen grassroots healthcare delivery.

 

He further revealed that the construction of three specialist hospitals was underway, following a review of the projects to ensure the facilities meet world-class standards.

 

The commissioner also announced that Governor Otti had directed the immediate operationalisation of the solar power project at the SDG Hospital in Ugwunagbo to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply for staff and patients.

 

In addition, Kanu disclosed that the state government, through the Ministry of Health, was collaborating with global health institutions and hospitals in Sweden on several medical outreach programmes scheduled between November 2025 and May 2026.

These include:

• Pro-Health International Outreach (November 16–22, 2025)
• Abia Diaspora Medical Outreach Group Programme (December 12–19, 2026)
• AMPA Abia Medical Outreach (April 2026)
• Swedish Global Health Outreach Partnership (May 2026)

“All these medical outreaches have been lined up to improve the health and well-being of our people in Abia State,” Kanu said, adding that there were no confirmed cases of any public health concern in the state.

 

He also announced that the recruitment portal for health workers had been reopened, with vacancies for ophthalmologists, medical officers, dental officers, and consultants on both part-time and full-time bases.

 

“The Ministry of Health, through the Civil Service Commission, is still interested in hiring the best hands. Interested candidates should visit the Abia State website and apply via the link provided,” he said.

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