The Abia State government mapped out N18.9bn to support economically vulnerable individuals and families in the state this year, according to the governor, Alex Otti.
This is just as he said it had also concluded arrangements for the ground breaking ceremony for the proposed Medical City Project, he announced last year.
Otti made these public in his new year message to the people, saying the administration insists that wealth and prosperity cannot be built through hand-outs.
He explained that the moves are also statements of fact that many would find it difficult to survive in the short run without a structured system of social support.
“They speak to our determination to use the levers of public office to redistribute wealth and ensure that the fruits of social prosperity get to everyone, especially those on the lowest rungs of the income ladder.“
“This year holds very important promises for us and I invite all of us to prepare for extensive government interventions in the education and health sectors where we are, just like in 2024, set to commit 35% of our entire budgetary outlay.“
“The project promises to revolutionise the healthcare delivery ecosystem in the region, cut down the rate of medical tourism, and provide incentives for the retention of top medical talents in the state.“
„The on-going renovation of 200 primary healthcare centres will also be completed in the first quarter of the New Year to boost access to quality health services, especially in the rural communities,“ he asserted.
