About 1,500 residents of Abia State are expected to benefit from a five-day free medical outreach organised by the state government in collaboration with the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA).

The state commissioner for health, Enoch Uche, disclosed this on Friday during a news conference in Umuahia, saying the exercise was scheduled to hold from April 13 to 17.

Mr Uche said the initiative aligned with the healthcare agenda of Governor Alex Otti, which aimed to strengthen partnerships with diaspora medical professionals to improve healthcare delivery and access.

He explained that the outreach was part of efforts to expand affordable, high-quality healthcare services and advance universal health coverage across the state.

According to him, about 25 doctors from the United States will participate in the programme alongside local medical personnel to provide consultations and surgeries.

He added that services would include general medical consultations, gynaecological procedures, general surgeries and eye surgeries for eligible residents.

The commissioner said at least 1,500 consultations and about 100 surgeries were expected to be carried out during the outreach period.

He said that the programme would also include training for 80 health workers on basic life support and emergency response to improve frontline healthcare delivery.

Mr Uche further announced the Abia Healthcare Rebirth Initiative, aimed at promoting compassionate care, improved medical practice and better service delivery among health workers in the state.

The coordinator of the ANPA outreach, Uloaku Ukaegbu, said preparations were complete, adding that more than 250 people had already indicated interest in surgical procedures pending final screening.

(NAN)