馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Abia State to receive $250 million World Bank grant for health security
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Abia State has been approved by the World Bank to receive a $250 million grant aimed at enhancing health security in Nigeria. This announcement was made by Commissioner for Information Okey Kanu, who stated that the state's inclusion in the program is due to ongoing health sector reforms. Kanu also noted that the Federal Government's Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport Programme has been adopted in Abia to improve emergency healthcare access and reduce maternal, child, and neonatal mortality. Additionally, the 2026 Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas Medical Mission will take place in the state, planning 1,500 medical consultations and 100 specialized surgeries. A World Bank team recently visited to review public finance systems related to healthcare delivery, further boosting the state's health reforms. Kanu reported no major public health concerns like Lassa fever, mpox, diphtheria, yellow fever, or cholera during the review period. In education, the Abia State Accelerated Basic Education Programme has started, allowing residents to complete the primary school curriculum in three years, targeting those who missed basic education earlier to help them obtain their First School Leaving Certificate.
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