Innocent Odoh
Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has assured that the Nigerian healthcare system will ultimately become a hub of medical tourism, stating that a major investment deal worth $700 million is being earmarked to build cancer treatment and diagnosis center in the country.
According to the NIDCOM Boss the health center will be built
in the country, through the establishment of the Africa Medical Centre for
Excellence (AMCE).
Abike Dabiri-Erewa stated this in Abuja while receiving Mr.
Brian Deaver, the CEO, AMCE and his team who paid her a courtesy call in her
office recently, a statement issued by the Head of Media, Public Relations and
Protocols Unit of NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun said.
Noting that a number of Nigerian professionals in the
healthcare industry were beginning to invest in the sector in Nigeria, the
former lawmaker said that with the volume of Medical facilities planned for the
centre, it will go a long way to reduce brain drain of medical professionals
and a game changer in medical tourism.
Dabiri-Erewa added that having NiDCOM on board as a partner
will help attract Nigerian medical personnel working in the Diaspora to tap
into their expertise and capacity building.
"With the assemblage of this wonderful team, I am
optimistic that the project is already a huge success. I therefore assure you
of our support and partnership in this regard", she said.
She added that if the vision and mission of the project is
fully implemented as conceived, it will not only revamp the current situation
of Nigeria's health sector but will change Nigeria to a centre of destination
for medical tourism.
She, however, advised that there should be provision for the
treatment of the less privileged in the society, so that the facilities will be
for all categories of humanity.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa seized the opportunity to congratulate
Dr. Aisha Umar, the Chief Medical Officer of AMCE on her latest appointment, describing
her as one of the best in the health sector.
The NiDCOM Boss gave the assurance of the Commission's
readiness to work with AMCE group, as a Technical Committee will be created to
that effect.
Earlier, Mr. Brian Deaver, the CEO of AMCE, who introduced
his team of experts, said that the project is a world-class medical service hub
aimed at providing efficient health care delivery in Nigeria, especially in
Cancer and Cardiovascular related treatments.
According to him, the establishment of the Centre in Nigeria
will reverse the flow of external medical tourism, estimated at six billion
dollars annually.
With the on-going project in Nigeria, Deaver said that over
1,000 Nigerian medical and non-medical staff will be recruited.
He said that the centre will be one of the many world class
cancer treatment and diagnosis centres to be built in Nigeria with over $700
million funding support from an Afrexim bank
Speaking in the same vein, Dr. Aisha Umar, the Chief Medical
Officer of AMCE said that the group has been enthusiastic in partnering with
Africa in Healthcare delivery with the pilot business in Abuja, Nigeria in the
next two years as well as providing excellent training for medical personnel. -LEADERSHIP