The Unubiko Foundation, a non-governmental organization, has constructed a Primary Healthcare Centre and 30 housing units for indigent residents of Ndi Okereke Abam community in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State.
Speaking at the inauguration and handover ceremony on Friday, the founder of the foundation, Chief James Ume, said the projects were initiated to improve welfare and access to healthcare for vulnerable members of the community.
Ume, a native of the area, said the initiative was also driven by his desire to support the development agenda of Gov. Alex Otti and complement ongoing government interventions across Abia State.
He commended the governor for various infrastructural projects, particularly the Abam–Arochukwu Road, and urged residents to continue to support the administration to ensure the delivery of democratic dividends.
Gov. Otti said the donated Primary Healthcare Centre aligns with his administration’s commitment to strengthening the health sector and expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare services for rural communities.
The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, said the project supports the state’s efforts to create an enabling environment through effective public-private partnerships for sustainable development.
He urged beneficiaries of the facilities, especially recipients of the 30 housing units, to take ownership of the projects, protect public assets and ensure proper maintenance for long-term community benefit.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, commended the quality of the facility, noting that it is equipped with modern wards, oxygen systems, incubators, an ultra-modern laboratory and family planning services.
Uche said the centre is among five Primary Healthcare Centres in Abam selected for retrofitting under Project Ekwueme, a state initiative aimed at revitalizing and making PHCs functional for improved grassroots healthcare delivery.
He called on individuals and stakeholders to support grassroots enrollment into the informal sector health insurance scheme, stressing that achieving universal health coverage requires collective responsibility beyond government policies and efforts.
Community members welcomed the projects, saying the Primary Healthcare Centre would improve access to quality healthcare services, reduce hardship and discourage reliance on unregulated medical alternatives in the rural area.
It was also reported that the foundation constructed a church hall for the Presbyterian Church in Idima Abam community, further contributing to social development in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State.
