By Steve Oko
UMUAHIA — Abia State has begun a sweeping reform of its healthcare delivery system with the rollout of a culture-change initiative aimed at entrenching compassion, accountability, respect and excellence in public hospitals.
The initiative, known as the Abia Healthcare Rebirth Initiative (AHCRI), is a strategic partnership between Quantus Medical Foundation – US-based, Nigeria-focused organisation – , and the Abia State Ministry of Health.
Implemented through the Foundation’s flagship, “WeCare Nigeria” programme, the intervention is designed to entrench compassionate care, improve patient safety, and boost workforce efficiency in the state’s health system.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Quantus Medical Foundation, Dr Nnenna Ihekoromadu, said the programme is being executed in collaboration with the Abia State Government to drive practical and sustainable reforms.
“This is about strengthening the culture of care in our hospitals. When leadership, systems, and frontline teams are aligned, patients receive safer, more compassionate and timely care, especially in emergencies,” she said.
The week-long engagement featured a combination of leadership sessions, Basic Life Support (BLS) and emergency response training, as well as reinforcement of compassionate care practices and accountability systems.
Healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, and other hospital staff participated in the coordinated exercise aimed at improving service delivery.
A major component of the programme is the training and deployment of Patient Liaison Officers (PLOs) to pilot facilities such as Abia Specialist Hospital, Umuahia; General Hospital, Aba; and Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba.
The PLOs are expected to enhance patient flow, bridge communication gaps between patients and caregivers, and promptly escalate operational challenges for quick resolution
Fielding questions from newsmen during the training of PLOs in Umuahia, Dr Ihekoromadu, said “the intervention seeks to shift attention from infrastructure alone to the people who deliver care.”
“Our goal is to redefine healthcare delivery in Nigeria by changing the culture in hospitals. Historically, emphasis has been on buildings and equipment, but the people providing care have been overlooked,” she said.
Ihekoromadu explained that the initiative, which began at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, had already recorded “remarkable improvements” through leadership forums and the deployment of patient liaison officers.
According to her, Governor Alex Otti, impressed by the results in Enugu, invited the Foundation to replicate the model in Abia.
“We are now collaborating with the Ministry of Health to drive this reform through ACRI. The focus is on training healthcare workers to deliver patient-centred care anchored on compassion, accountability, respect and excellence,” she said.
She disclosed that about 60 healthcare professionals had already commenced training.
According to her, the Patient Liaison Officers, PLOs, would be deployed to critical units such as Accident and Emergency unit at the end of the training.
“These officers will ensure patients are treated with dignity and care, and that healthcare workers are held accountable. If patients feel cared for, healing begins even before medication,” she added.
Ihekoromadu noted that the training would run in phases, targeting all healthcare professionals in the state, with a six-month intensive programme designed to instill lasting behavioural change.
She stressed that the initiative would also address unprofessional conduct in hospitals, including reported cases of verbal abuse of patients.
“It is unacceptable for any patient, especially women in labour, to be treated without compassion. This training is to ensure such practices end,” she said.
On sustainability, she assured that monitoring mechanisms had been built into the programme to ensure long-term impact.
Commissioner for Health, Ogbonnaya Enoch, described the programme as a strategic intervention focused on equipping health workers with critical emergency response skills and improving patient care.
“We are training frontline workers on basic life support, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency handling. At the same time, we are training Patient Liaison Officers to ensure empathy becomes central to healthcare delivery,” he said.
According to him, the initiative is designed to promote compassion, accountability, and more efficient management of emergencies across health facilities, with measurable improvements expected in the coming months.
Chief Medical Director of Abia State Specialist Hospital, Chimezie Okwuonu, said the training comes at a critical time, following ongoing structural and human resource reforms in the sector.
“This is about improving efficiency and patient experience. From reducing waiting time to ensuring complaints are promptly addressed, the goal is to enhance overall service delivery and patient safety,” he said.
He added that the introduction of trained Patient Liaison Officers would streamline communication, shorten hospital stay, and ensure patients receive timely attention.
The Abia Specialist Hospital is among facilities selected for the pilot phase, with authorities set to monitor outcomes closely before scaling up the initiative
Speaking also, the CMD, Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Prof. Ijeoma Nduka, described the initiative as timely and transformative.
“This is a laudable project that will improve patient care. It is about changing our mindset and adopting global best practices. We are ready to learn and work with the team to deliver quality healthcare to our people,” she said.
The ACRI programme is expected to be expanded across public health institutions in the state as part of efforts to reposition the sector for efficient, humane and patient-focused service delivery.
Article Abia, US group launch health sector culture overhaul with patient-centred care drive Live On NgGossips.
