By Chigbu Nwaobia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, Thursday in Umuahia, swore in members of Abia State Medicine and Commodities Management Board, to drive reforms and boost qualitative healthcare delivery in the state.
Inaugurating the Board at Government House, Umuahia, Otti said that the members will help build a reliable, transparent and efficient supply chain system for medical commodities, to accelerate achievement of qualitative healthcare delivery for Abia populations.
He highlighted the Board’s inauguration as a deliberate step towards reinforcing healthcare delivery in the state in line with his administration’s commitment to offer qualitative healthcare delivery to the citizenry.
On the appointment of members of the Board, Otti said that top tier professionals with a wealth of experience in healthcare management, pharmaceutical services, and public administration were drawn into the Board in accordance with his administration’s policy on merit-based appointments over mediocrity.
The State Chief Executive congratulated members of the board for making the list and thanked them for accepting to serve. Otti, however, tasked them to deploy their wealth of experience in their new roles for the benefit of the greatest majority of Abians and urged them to perform creditably to justify their antecedents.
Chief Victor Amuta, FPSN, foremost pharmacist and public health expert with over 48 years of experience in healthcare management, is chairman of the board.
Other members include; Pharm Chris Ukah, Founder/GMD of KCH, an indigenous pharmaceutical conglomerate and an accomplished development advocate. Sir Ucheoma A. Madumere – Member representing Abia Central Senatorial District, a seasoned pharmacist with extensive experience in industrial pharmacy, service delivery, and general pharmaceutical practice; Dr. Akara Emmanuel Ugochukwu, Member representing Abia South Senatorial District, a Medical Doctor and policy expert with deep knowledge of health systems development, Pharm Nnaemeka Kanu Orji, Executive Secretary of the Agency and Secretary to the Board.
According to the terms of reference by the state government to members, the Board is charged with providing strategic oversight and policy direction for the Agency, which plays a critical role in ensuring the availability, affordability, and quality assurance of essential medicines and health commodities across the State’s public health institutions.
In his opening remarks at the inaugural meeting of the Board, chairman of the Board, Chief Victor Amuta, commended members for accepting to put their wealth of experience at the disposal of public good.
He acknowledged that the tasks before the committee could be daunting but expressed the confidence that members have the requisite capacity, competence and experience to surmount any challenge that may arise and deliver on their assigned roles.
“Our appointment into this strategic sector demands of us a patriotic zeal to serve and to deliver. Let us join hands with the best Governor ever to lead God’s own state, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, to transform the healthcare sector in Abia for our good and the good of generations to come,’’ Amuta said.
He thanked Governor Otti for the honour done to members of the Board by their appointments and, however, assured that members will justify the confidence reposed in them.
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Front Page News – Photo 1: Gov. Alex Otti (2nd Right) in a handshake with the Board Chairman – Chief Victor Amuta); others are, Sir Emmanuel Okafor, Chairman, PSN Abia State Branch – standing next to Otti; Pharm Nnaemeka Kanu Orji, Executive Secretary of the Agency and Secretary to the Board, standing behind Chief Amuta
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