Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has commenced the construction of 55 new Primary Health Centers across various local government areas in the state, in what his administration describes as a bold step to strengthen healthcare delivery in rural communities.
The initiative is said to be part of the State government’s ongoing efforts to make quality healthcare accessible, affordable, and closer to the people.
The new facilities are expected to focus on maternal and child health, disease prevention, and emergency response.
However, a glaring omission has sparked discussions: Owerri Municipal is the only local government area not listed among the beneficiaries of the project. While every other LGA is set to receive at least one new health center, the state capital’s municipal council was completely excluded.
There is no official response why this is so.The development has raised eyebrows among residents of Owerri Municipal, who argue that the area, being the administrative and urban hub of the state, should not have been left out of such a significant health sector intervention. Many described the exclusion as “a shocking oversight.”
Yet, the absence of Owerri Municipal from the list has fueled speculations about whether the government considers the area already well-served, or whether it was simply an omission.
Critics further argue that even if the municipal area has some existing facilities, excluding it entirely sends the wrong message.
Health analysts have also pointed out that Owerri Municipal’s growing population and increasing urban sprawl make it a critical location that should not be overlooked in healthcare development.
“If the capital city is ignored, it sets a dangerous precedent for planning and equity in public projects,” one health expert who does not want his name mentioned told this newspaper.
The 55 health centers are spread across LGAs such as Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Ehime Mbano, Ideato South, Ikeduru, Ngor Okpala, Njaba, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Obowo, Oguta, Ohaji Egbema, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Owerri North, Owerri West, and several others.
But none was designated for Owerri Municipal. The two existing heath centers located at World Bank and in Umuodu Umuihugba community are due for rehabilitation.
The Primary health center projects are as follows:
ABOH MBAISE — ENYIOGWUGWU
ABOH MBAISE — IBEKU
AHIAZU MBAISE — NNARAMBIA
AHIAZU MBAISE — OBODO AHIARA/IHENWEORIE
EHIME MBANO — UMUEZE 2
EHIME MBANO — UMUAKAGU
EZINIHITTE MBAISE — AKPODIM
EZINIHITTE MBAISE — EZINIHITTE -MBAISE 6
IDEATO SOUTH — ISIEKENESI 2
IDEATO SOUTH — UMUESHI
IDEATO SOUTH — UMUOBOM
IHITTE UBOMA — AMAYI
IHITTE UBOMA — UMUAWUCHI/NOMO
IKEDURU — IHO
IKEDURU — UZOAGBA
ISIALA MBANO — OBOLLO
ISIALA MBANO — IBEME
ISIALA MBANO — ANARA
ISU — AMANDUGBA 1
ISU — ISU NJABA
MBAITOLI — OGBAKU
MBAITOLI — IHITTE
NGOR OKPALA — IMEIRIENWE
NGOR OKPALA — AMALA/NTU
NGOR OKPALA — OHEKELEM NNORIE
NGOR OKPALA — OBIKE/ELELEM
NJABA — OBINATOR
NJABA — AMUCHA
NKWERRRE — UMANACHI
NKWERRRE — UMUDI
NKWERRRE — OWERRENKWOJI 1
NWANGELE — AMAIGBO 7
NWANGELE — DIM NA N’UME
NWANGELE — ABAJAH 1
OBOWO — ACHARA
OBOWO — UMOLOGHO/UMUAGU
OGUTA — EJEMEKWURU/AKABOR
OGUTA — EGWE/EGBUOMA
OHAJI EGBEMA — OHUBA
OHAJI EGBEMA — EGBEMA F
ONUIMO — UMUOKO
ONUIMO — OKOHIA
ORSU — AMANNACHI
ORSU — AMARURU
ORU EAST — AMIRI 2
ORU EAST — AMAGU
ORU EAST — AKATTA 1
ORU EAST — AWO OMAMMA 1
ORU WEST — OTULU
ORU WEST — MGBIDI 1
OWERRI NORTH — OBIBI EZENA
OWERRI NORTH — EMEKUKU 1
OWERRI NORTH — ORJI 2
OWERRI WEST — OROGWE/OHII
OWERRI WEST — OFOROLA
