Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, has unveiled plans to obtain Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation for three major medical facilities in the state: Abia State University Teaching Hospital located in Aba, Amachara Specialist Hospital in Umuahia, and Umunnato Specialist Hospital situated in Bende.
These hospitals are presently undergoing extensive renovation, expansion, and modernization, with the aim of transforming them into advanced referral centres that will serve the three senatorial districts within the state. The initiative forms part of a broader healthcare reform strategy designed to elevate service delivery and align the state’s medical infrastructure with global best practices.
The governor made this known on Monday during a meeting with Clare Omatseye, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of JNCI, alongside her delegation. The team provided a detailed update on the ongoing redesign, rebuilding, and installation of modern medical equipment across the selected facilities.
JCI accreditation is internationally recognised as a gold standard for healthcare excellence, particularly in areas such as patient safety, quality of care, and institutional efficiency. At present, only a limited number of hospitals in Nigeria have attained this prestigious certification, making the Abia initiative both ambitious and significant.
Governor Otti expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work already achieved. He emphasised that, beyond infrastructure upgrades, his administration is simultaneously overhauling the leadership and operational framework of Abia State University Teaching Hospital to ensure improved management efficiency and service delivery.
According to him, these reforms are being executed concurrently to guarantee that both physical infrastructure and administrative systems are strengthened at the same time. He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that all processes move swiftly, stating that his government would expedite approvals for all necessary documentation to prevent unnecessary delays.
The governor further stressed the importance of timely project completion, directing that contractors intensify their efforts, even if it requires round-the-clock work schedules. He made it clear that his administration is determined to avoid setbacks and deliver the projects within the expected timeframe.
Otti also explained that advanced diagnostic services, particularly radiography, would be centralised at Abia State University Teaching Hospital. This approach, he noted, is intended to optimise resource utilisation and enhance service efficiency. Meanwhile, the Amachara and Umunnato facilities are being positioned as tertiary institutions that will complement the teaching hospital by offering specialised medical services across the state.
In her remarks, Omatseye commended the Abia State Government for its comprehensive reforms within the healthcare sector. She acknowledged notable improvements spanning primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of care, describing the progress as encouraging.
She also revealed that a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine valued at $1 million, donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is set to be installed at the Aba-based teaching hospital. This development, she said, represents another step forward in the state’s journey toward meeting international healthcare standards.
Overall, the initiative underscores the administration’s commitment to transforming Abia’s health sector into a system capable of delivering high-quality, globally competitive medical services.
